Will There Still Be Chinatowns in Utopia?

“Community character" is often invoked to support exclusion and discrimination, but there are also communities whose unique "character" matters—a lot. How (if at all) should local government support such places?

Neighborhoods, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 18, 2023neighborhood, Neighborhoods, local government, local regulation, race, Race, housing policy

Do It Afraid

To save our cities, we need to try new ideas, and that’s scary. But sometimes we must make scary decisions if we’re ever going to move into a stronger, more resilient future.

Local Government, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 17, 2023local government, policy change, city government

These 4 Communities Are Leading the Way in Making Their Places Stronger

Today, we’re announcing the four communities hosting the inaugural Community Action Lab.

Announcement, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 16, 2023announcement, Community Action Lab

Ruling: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority “Willfully” Misled Public to Force $5 Billion Expansion Project

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority faces multiple lawsuits, with plaintiffs alleging its plans for an imminent turnpike expansion project not only lacked transparency, but were illegal.

End Highway Expansion, Transportation, News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 16, 2023End Highway Expansion, transportation, Infrastructure, infrastructure, oklahoma, DOT, highways, freeway widening

Sketches of Shenandoah

A drive through Shenandoah National Park, and a look back at its 1930s creation, offers a glimpse into the early era of American car culture, when motoring was a recreational activity with a lighter imprint on the landscape.

Edward Erfurt, Environment, Top StoryEdward ErfurtJanuary 13, 2023Parks, car culture, history, rural, environment

In This Housing Fight, It’s Conservative Politicians vs. Conservative Policies

One would expect a Republican governor to endorse free-market solutions on a local level, yet housing and zoning tend to scramble traditional political debates in unexpected ways.

Incremental Housing, News, Top StoryBen AbramsonJanuary 12, 2023Incremental Housing, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Housing, housing cost, politics, Florida

5 Cities That Repealed Parking Minimums in 2022

In recent years, a rapidly growing number of cities across North America have begun repealing mandatory parking minimums. Here are a few highlights from 2022.

End Parking Mandates, Success Story, News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 12, 2023End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, Parking, parking minimums, parking, Parking Reform Network, success, success stories

People Move to Places with Zoning Laws, Ergo Zoning Is Good?

Is there any way to make a case for exclusionary zoning? Today’s episode of Upzoned examines two recent articles that argue over the matter.

Podcast, Upzoned, Incremental Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 11, 2023Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, zoning, Incremental Housing

This City Knows How to Talk to Residents!

This video about a recent street redesign project in Selkirk, Manitoba, shows just how cities should be communicating with their residents.

Engagement, Safe & Productive Streets, Van Eeden Petersman, Top Story, Community StoriesNorman Van Eeden PetersmanJanuary 11, 2023Safe and Productive Streets, public engagement, community engagement, canada, Canada, Street Design, public investment

Roundabout Woes in North Denver

Design flaws in these Denver roundabouts are undermining their potential as tools for calming traffic.

Sheppard, Safe & Productive Streets, Transportation, Top StorySeairra SheppardJanuary 11, 2023Roundabouts, Safe and Productive Streets, Safety, safety, traffic engineering, colorado, transportation

Everything Is a Safety Improvement

…At least, according to the transportation professionals who advance harmful infrastructure projects in the communities they’re supposed to serve.

End Highway Expansion, Engineering Profession, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJanuary 10, 2023Safety, End Highway Expansion, Infrastructure, engineers, engineering ethics

Designing for Resilience: Policies Are Great, but Design Is What Will Change Your Life

Citizens and city leaders striving to pivot from car-based design to more resilient models of growth and development need to start planning our places with the end in mind—the “end” being everyday life, itself.

Urban Design, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 10, 2023urban design, Texas, biking, fragility

Mike Hathorne: Where Does Decision-Making Need to Occur in Our Communities?

Commun1ty.one Principal and Strong Towns member Mike Hathorne joins the podcast today to talk about the concept of subsidiarity.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 9, 2023Podcast, podcast, local government, member commentary

Vaccines Reduce Auto Crashes...?

The Reckless Driver™ narrative reaches a whole new level of absurdity, associating reckless driving with failure to vaccinate against COVID-19.

#SlowtheCars, Marohn, Coronavirus, Safe & Productive Streets, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 9, 2023coronavirus, Safe and Productive Streets, car crash, STROADS, politics, Street Design, #SlowTheCars

The Power of Paint in Street Transformation

With some simple, low-tech tools, the street next to a neighborhood park can be transformed in a way that’s friendly to both city budgets and residents wanting to access the park.