Gateway to Hell

A troubled project in Mission, KS, speaks to the problems with large, single-developer projects—but also why fixating on the "bad developer" narrative isn't necessarily helpful.

Incremental Housing, Top StoryKevin KlinkenbergFebruary 7, 2023small scale developers, small scale development, Development, development, developers, incremental, Incremental Housing, incrementalism, incremental development

A Year of Building Optimism: 365 Days of Beautiful Modern Buildings

These buildings—all built within the past 20 years in the U.S. and Canada—show that we can still create things of beauty, and that gives us something to look forward to (and to fight for)!

Architecture, Incremental Housing, Top StorySeairra SheppardFebruary 7, 2023aesthetics, architecture, Incremental Housing, member story

Who Does it Take to (Physically) Build a Neighborhood?

If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a whole community to build a building. The small-scale developers of South Bend, IN, are showing how to do just that—and do it successfully in the long term.

Herriges, Incremental Housing, Top Story, Community StoriesDaniel HerrigesFebruary 1, 2023Incremental Housing, incremental development, incrementalism, incremental, Indiana, developers, Development, development, small scale developers, small scale development

Parking, Pizza, and Apartments at the Mall

The way we build our neighborhoods in North America is nothing like making a pizza. But maybe it should be.

Incremental Housing, Top Story 2Michel Durand-WoodJanuary 31, 2023canada, Canada, Development, development pattern, development, traditional development pattern, mixed use, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, incrementalism, resilience, Incremental Housing

Church Members Propose Urban Village for Congregation

Parishioners of a historic church in Detroit want to develop eight vacant blocks with missing-middle housing to build a church-centered community.

Incremental Housing, CNU, News, Top StoryRobert SteutevilleJanuary 27, 2023faith communities, Religion, religion, churches, Michigan, public space, community, Community, Incremental Housing

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

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

There’s No Such Thing as Affordable Housing

Los Angeles lost a hundred thousand affordable homes in a decade. Don’t look to bulldozers to explain how.

Herriges, Housing, Incremental Housing, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 4, 2023Incremental Housing, housing, housing cost, housing affordability, housing crisis, Los Angeles, poverty

Recovering the Lost Art of Mixed-Use Development

Mixed-use development was once the norm in cities and towns, but most Americans no longer remember how it works. Here are 3 easy-to-understand forms that mixed use could (and should) take in your community.

Edward Erfurt, Planning Profession, Zoning, Top Story 2, Incremental HousingEdward ErfurtDecember 2, 2022mixed use, development pattern, traditional development pattern, urban planning, Development, development, planning profession, planning process

Top of the Bottom-Up: Building Gentle Density and a Grassroots Campaign for City Council

Ashley Salvador is a housing advocate and city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Planning Profession, Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsDecember 1, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local conversations, taking action, city council, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, success, success stories

Reminder: The Place You Live Is Not New York (Unless It Is)

Discourse about affordable housing is dominated by a handful of extremely unrepresentative places, and the solutions that might be applicable in those places don't translate in the rest of the U.S.

Herriges, Housing, Top Story, Incremental HousingDaniel HerrigesDecember 1, 2022housing, housing affordability, housing activism, housing cost, Incremental Housing, Housing, housing policy, YIMBY, NIMBY

This Man Overcame Homelessness by Building His Own Tiny Home…on Hollywood Boulevard!

This LA resident has gone viral after taking matters into his own hands to deal with the housing crisis.

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsNovember 9, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, airbnb, rent, housing, housing cost, Housing, housing policy, housing market, housing crisis, Incremental Housing, Tiny House, Los Angeles

What Does the "Airbnbust" Mean for the Housing Market?

Airbnb owners have voiced concerns over plummeting bookings in the last few months. Are we witnessing the “Airbnbust,” and if so, what does this mean for the housing market, as a whole?

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsNovember 2, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, airbnb, rent, housing, housing cost, Housing, housing policy, housing market, housing crisis, Incremental Housing

We Need More Housing—But Also More People Who Can Build More Housing

The Ontario government has stated that the province will need 100,000 new construction workers and 1.5 million homes over the next decade…and industry leaders aren’t feeling optimistic about it.

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsOctober 19, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing crisis, housing affordability, housing cost, Housing Crisis, Housing, construction

Pre-Approved House Designs Jump-Start Infill Development in South Bend

While other places keep finding ways to say “no” to new housing, this Indiana city is offering pre-approved development templates to small-scale developers at no cost.

Herriges, Housing, Top Story, Incremental HousingDaniel HerrigesOctober 6, 2022housing, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Incremental Housing, incremental development, Infill Development, infill, missing middle, Indiana, success, success stories, Development, small-scale developers

We Have Plenty of Land in the United States. But Can All of It Support Housing?

A recent article from The Wall Street Journal claims that land must be positioned in a very specific way to support more development. What’s the Strong Towns take on this?

Upzoned, Podcast, Top Story, Housing, Incremental HousingStrong TownsOctober 5, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Incremental Housing, developers, Development, development

A Loophole Allowed Me to Flourish

Many older homeowners face a tough choice: Age in a home that’s too large or inaccessible for them, or give up their property and move somewhere else. Here’s how one resident of Delta, BC, found a third option.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit and Helping Others Do the Same

Sarah Cipkar created a tool to help people navigate the ADU process in Canada.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Zoning, Top Story, Incremental Housing, Community StoriesStrong TownsSeptember 29, 2022Podcast, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, canada, incremental development

What Will Housing Prices Be a Year From Now?

If one thing’s clear about the housing market, it’s that it’s currently more sensitive to factors outside of your community—outside of your control—than anything within.