Reforming the administration of a city's building or zoning code is just as important as reforming the code itself. Fortunately, shifting this approach is within the discretion of city staff, so they can turn an aggravating, time-consuming process into one that better serves everyone's needs.
Read MoreJacob Hyman is a civil site engineer in training and the leader of Strong Towns Steubenville, a Local Conversation in Ohio. He joins the podcast today to discuss the challenges of revitalizing a Rust Belt city and how Strong Towns Steubenville is tackling those challenges.
Read MoreSome of the best arguments for historic preservation are not aesthetic or sentimental, but economic. Here are some examples of how the preservation and reuse of historic buildings can increase an area’s productivity.
Read MoreIn this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Edward Erfurt, Strong Towns' director of community action, to discuss the U.S. DOT's plan to implement vehicle-to-everything technology in 75% of the nation's intersections.
Read MoreWe’ve assembled a guide to three towns and cities of varying sizes that have recently revised their parking regulations. That way, when you decide to pursue parking reform in your own community, you can use them as examples of how parking reform strengthens cities.
Read MoreDon't be scared off by the policy changes and wonky jargon: Incremental development is fundamentally about seeing potential in your neighborhood, about observing problems and then coming up with creative ways to address them.
Read MoreIn this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck explains why big, risky gambles often fail when applied to complex problems. He uses V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology as a recent example of this kind of gamble.
Read MoreIf there's a single document that reflects the spirit of our work and the essence of the Strong Towns movement, it's the "Don't Be a Jerk" Agreement that we ask all Local Conversation leaders to sign. As the movement continues to grow — and as Election Day draws near — we want to make this agreement public.
Read MoreWhen analyzing car crashes and identifying ways to prevent them, local experts — residents who are familiar with the crash sites — can often identify issues and solutions that technical experts miss. Here's how technical experts and elected officials can tap into that local expertise.
Read MoreBiking advocates often argue that cities should add bike infrastructure because it'll reduce congestion. Reality is harder to predict. Here's why you should shift away from reducing congestion arguments and what you could focus on instead.
Read MoreIn this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the professional silos that often form between the disciplines that help shape the built environment and how those barriers could be broken down.
Read MoreMany cities are experiencing a rapid decline in their under-age-5 population, as a lack of family-sized housing forces families to leave for the suburbs. How should cities respond? One method is adopting courtyard blocks.
Read MoreWith the prevalence of online shopping, creating a compelling storefront has never been more necessary for small businesses. Here are six ways you can draw customers in with the design of your storefront.
Read MoreOn this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Beth Osborne, the director of Transportation for America, to discuss the Highway Trust Fund and how it affects federal and state transportation policies.
Read MoreAmericans are suckers for the idea of a moonshot, of taking a big, challenging risk and earning a huge payoff. The problem is, these moonshots usually fail, especially when they're trying to fix complex, chronic problems like traffic safety. There's a better way.
Read MoreDiscussions of kids’ safety are often limited to what they should do, like wearing helmets. While wearing a helmet may make them a bit safer, kids will never be as safe as they could be until adults address the infrastructural issues that put them in so much danger.
Read MoreTiffany Elder is a licensed general contractor, realtor and real estate investor/developer in Durham, North Carolina. She joins this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to discuss her career path, how her various roles intersect, and the challenges and opportunities she’s faced.
Read MoreThe evolution of a parking lot in Harrisonburg, Virginia, shows how cities allowing land usage to shift alongside community needs creates more productive and appealing places.
Read MoreIn this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by small-scale developers Alli Quinlan and Bernice Radle to discuss their experiences as advice as incremental developers.
Read MoreLand use reform is gaining momentum and laws are evolving rapidly across North America. Here are some changes that are likely coming in the future and what impacts they might have.
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