The lament, “There’s nothing to do here,” might sound like teenage grumbling, but there may be more wisdom to it than meets the ear. Maybe we should look at our cities through the lens of organic social activities, both because they're enjoyable and because it gives us a chance to reconsider our values and the relationship between our design choices and our community’s social life.
Read MoreA new development in Tempe, Arizona, claims to be “the best place to live car-free in the U.S.” But while this development has many of the trappings of a strong town, it’s lacking one of the most important elements: resilience born from incremental development.
Read MoreWhen the owners of Lawrence Hall bought the abandoned building, they had a vision of reviving it into a food hall that would support small businesses and help their community thrive. They never imagined that a few parking spots would put their dream on hold for seven years.
Read MoreIn what’s anticipated to be a landslide, the people of Los Angeles just voted in favor of walking, biking, and transit.
Read MoreAmerican cities are too dependent on cars. Who says so? North Dakota Governor and former Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum.
Read MoreChildren haven’t changed in the past 100 years, but our attitudes about their ability to be independent have.
Read MoreDon’t wage a war against drivers, but don’t wage a war for them, either.
Read MoreThis Dallas citizen developer is creating housing that’s maximizing profit—not for himself, but for the community—by funneling individuals from the foster care system into homeownership.
Read MoreOn this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, author Tristan Cleveland goes in depth about why cities struggle to retrofit their car dependence, and what could actually be done to create change.
Read MoreThis festival has all the elements that make for a thriving downtown—elements that should be present year-round.
Read MoreCar-oriented cities give us speed but rob us of the joy of discovery.
Read MoreWhy does walking feel so intuitive when we’re in a city built before cars, yet as soon as we return home, walking feels like an unpleasant chore that immediately drives us into a car?
Read MoreA new survey asks: “If you were moving to a new home, would you be willing to spend more to live in a community where you could easily walk to parks, shops, and restaurants?” Here’s how people responded.
Read MoreWhile multi-use paths are better than no infrastructure for people walking or biking, those that are useful for transportation tend to be busy, and often leave a lot to be desired.
Read MorePeople will walk in seemingly unwalkable places—not because they want to, but because they have to. Thankfully, this bridge in Peoria, IL, is becoming a little more walkable for each of these people who use it every day.
Read MoreIf cities strive to meet the basic physiological human need to move our bodies, they may be pleasantly surprised at how everything else just falls into place.
Read MoreResidents of Winter Garden, FL, realized they needed to take action to revive their declining town. They did this by focusing on one straightforward goal: bring people back downtown.
Read MoreThrough a series of walk audits, local leaders in Peoria, IL, are not only observing the urban environment, but starting to understand how small, simple actions can profoundly shape it.
Read MoreA real estate listing can be used as a roadmap to the attributes that Strong Towns advocates for: human-scale development, safe places to walk and bike, and responsive local government.
Read MoreOn today’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn dives into controversies surrounding the concept of the 15-minute city.
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