Strong Towns

One of the things we talk a lot about here at Strong Towns is the Suburban Experiment. So, what is it, anyway? The Suburban Experiment is a method of city building where cities make large leaps in development and then remain in stasis. This phenomenon affects urban, suburban and rural communities. This method of development allows cities to pursue short-term cash advantages while ignoring accrued long-term liabilities. As those liabilities come due, cities scramble to pay for them, often by levying higher taxes, reducing services and deferring maintenance of critical infrastructure. Ultimately, this approach leads to municipal insolvency. The better way? Making small, continual advancements in development while scrupulously accounting for long-term liabilities. Cities should invite and empower residents to participate in this incremental development. That way, they can ensure that their debt isn’t outpacing their revenue, all while rapidly adapting to the needs and desires of the community.

Here are a few design elements that encourage slower speeds: - Narrower lanes. - Bollards. - Curb extensions. - Raised crosswalks.

Creating bottom-up change means working with people of all political alignments. Fortunately, the Strong Towns approach can unite people across political divides so they can make their communities better — no matter if they’re in red or blue states. The truth is that few people really live in “red” or “blue” areas, anyway. They live on streets and in neighborhoods filled with people who have a myriad of political convictions, many of which (despite what X might tell you) do not fit neatly into a Democrat or Republican box. Once you realize that living on the same street and in the same neighborhood is a powerful basis for camaraderie and local action, you can really start doing some good. Here’s a guide to get you started.

One of the steps to allowing incremental housing and addressing the housing crisis is nurturing local, small-scale developers. But how do you actually do that? South Bend, Indiana, offers a few suggestions: - Provide pre-approved development templates to simplify and expedite the building and approval process. - Reduce regulatory barriers by eliminating parking minimums. - Reduce cost barriers by offering reimbursements for infill development utility hookups. - Provide workshops and support on planning, financing and navigating regulations. Learn more:

On March 12, 2024, President Biden posted the following on X: “We have to build, build, build. That's how we bring down costs for good.” In a time where many feel like they’re squeezed out of the prospect of home ownership, renters are budgeting more and more of their annual income to remain in the same apartments they’ve called home for years, and losing the roof over your head is becoming less of an anomaly, the president’s words may feel reassuring. There’s no doubt that, across the country, the supply is not meeting the demand when it comes to housing. Without question, not building is not an option, but that doesn’t mean that “build, build, build,” will usher us into security and prosperity. In fact, rather than asking, “DO we build?” we should be asking, “HOW do we build?” because if we continue the way we’ve been going, we’re only going to get deeper into this mess. Click here to learn more: https://buff.ly/3LxDmfx

Nice, California, doesn’t have nice streets. But it could, if city planners started thinking about road infrastructure in a way that prioritizes safety and walkability over asphalt. Here are a couple of redesign options, inspired by a Crash Analysis Studio held in the city. Get the whole story: https://buff.ly/45X0D3T

Conversations with local decision-makers are an essential part of advocating for stronger cities. While it's exciting to share your own ideas, it's more important to ask thoughtful questions to have a truly productive conversation. So, here are three questions to ask your city councilor: 1. "What are the constraints you're working within?" This question helps you understand the practical limitations officials face and why they may not implement your ideas even if they agree with them. Learning about these constraints can help you can develop proposals that are more likely to be implemented, and you may even be able to find creative workarounds for the constraints. 2. "What problem are you trying to solve?" This question prevents misunderstandings and ensures that you're not working at cross-purposes. Understanding how they view the problem can also help you tailor your suggestions to be more appealing. 3. "What do you think it would take to implement [specific idea]?" This question taps into their insider knowledge of how change happens in the city. Their advice can guide you toward relevant meetings, key contacts or important processes to engage with. Learning to ask the right questions is an ongoing process, so don't be discouraged by occasional missteps. Each interaction is an opportunity to improve and become a more effective advocate for your community.

Why does Strong Towns advocate for an incremental approach over big projects? There are three main reasons: 1. An incremental approach is more financially sustainable. Big projects often come with big price tags and long-term maintenance costs. They can strain a city's budget and divert resources away from other needs. On the other hand, small, incremental investments are typically more manageable and can be adjusted or stopped if they're not working out. 2. An incremental approach allows for more flexibility and adaptability. Cities are complex and constantly changing. What seems like a good idea today might not work out tomorrow. Big projects can trap you on a negative trajectory, but an incremental approach lets you test ideas, learn from mistakes and adapt as circumstances change. 3. An incremental approach is more inclusive. Big projects are often decided and implemented by a small group of people. In contrast, an incremental approach allows for more community involvement. It's about making many small decisions, over time, with the input and participation of local residents. Big projects aren’t always bad, but they should be approached with caution and a clear understanding of the potential risks and benefits that accompany them. Cities need to do the math and consider ALL of a project’s long-term liabilities before they give it a green light.

Many problems in the urbanism realm boil down to people having different ideas of what a city is and what purpose it has. To be an effective advocate, you need to make sure you and the people you’re talking to are on the same page. So, what is a city, anyway? Is it a transactional space that sustains our individual pursuits of happiness and national economy? Or is it living ecosystem in which people collaborate to provide solutions for their needs? Your answer to that question will make all the difference.

Many bus routes have ditched traditional signage for digital maps and schedules that update in real time. While this benefits transit-users in some ways, it also makes it harder for them to find all the information they need to navigate a city. A combined system would be a better method, allowing for information that is both accurate and immediately accessible.