Iowa May Legalize Backyard Cottages—Your City Can Do It First

Cities need more entry-level homes, but efforts to increase supply are often met with resistance. Iowa is considering a way around that issue: legalizing backyard cottages to increase housing supply without radically changing neighborhoods.

North Carolina is Ditching 1960s Era Zoning

North Carolina lawmakers have joined forces across party lines to make housing easier to build—here’s what they’re proposing.

Top Story 2Strong TownsApril 4, 2025housing crisis, housing, North Carolina, zoning Be the First to Comment

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Using Art To Advocate for Street Safety

Sarah Rose is an artist and advocate from Washington. She joins Tiffany on this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to talk about how the intersection of advocacy and art is driving change in her city. (Transcript included.)

Small-Scale Housing is Making a Big Impact in Seattle

Soaring home prices and tight housing supply are pushing local leaders to find creative solutions. Seattle’s embrace of backyard cottages has quietly delivered thousands of new homes right where they’re needed most.

Cincinnati Ditches the Status Quo with its Zoning Reform

Outdated zoning laws are holding cities back, restricting housing options and stalling economic growth. That’s why Cincinnati is trying something different.

Two Views, One Budget: Why Houston’s Financial Story Isn’t as Simple as It Looks

Houston’s new Popular Annual Financial Report tells a reassuring story of short-term growth and recovery, but it ignores the city's long-term financial trends. If things are going to improve, public officials need to confront reality.

Officials Are Using the Strong Towns Approach in This California Town

During a recent Planning Commission meeting in Windsor, California, Vice Chair Tim Zahner advocated for using the Strong Towns approach to make the city's streets safer.