Thank you, Alabama

I had a good pair of events this week in Birmingham with some people very enthused to help their communities become Strong Towns. It was really nice to be back in Alabama and I'm hoping for an opportunity to go back soon. In the meantime, here's what the schedule for sharing the Strong Towns message in person looks like for the next couple of months.

April 24-25 - Stevens Point, WI  - Half day training session, AICP Credits will be offered - Register Here
April 28 - Dallas, TX - Curbside Chat
April 30 - Dallas, TX - Member Appreciation Event (Strong Towns members should have received an email this week.)
May 13 - Fargo, ND - Curbside Chat
May 14 - Grand Forks, ND - Curbside Chat
May 19 - Hays, KS - Curbside Chat
May 21 - Lewiston, ME - Conference Keynote
June 17 - Boston, MA - Conference Keynote
June 18 - Denver, CO - Strong Towns on Tap
June 23 - Detroit, MI - Conference Panel
June 30 - Des Moines, IA - Conference Keynote

In case you missed it....

Featured
The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Re-Localizing the Benefits of Housing Development
Strong Towns
The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Re-Localizing the Benefits of Housing Development
Strong Towns

Ryan Andrews is the CFO of a small-scale development company and capital fund in Bend, Oregon. In this episode, he discusses the importance of local investment and explains how to channel the profits from housing development back to locals. (Transcript included.)

Strong Towns
Tennessee is Entering An Era of Yes. Your Place Can Too.
Strong Towns
Tennessee is Entering An Era of Yes. Your Place Can Too.
Strong Towns

For years, housing production has systematically privileged corporate developers while shutting out everyone else. But cities are starting to change that. In Tennessee, this change is taking the form of a new process for preapproved plans.

Strong Towns
It Won’t Be Us: Thoughts on Our Current Craziness From a Strong Towns Perspective
Strong Towns
It Won’t Be Us: Thoughts on Our Current Craziness From a Strong Towns Perspective
Strong Towns

In this episode, Chuck explains that we’ve created a political climate where you either take a chainsaw to failing systems or you refuse to acknowledge that they’re failing. He then shows how the Strong Towns approach offers a better way. (Transcript included.)

Strong Towns
Strong Towns Need Strong Churches: The Case for Incremental Faith-Based Housing
Eli Smith
Strong Towns Need Strong Churches: The Case for Incremental Faith-Based Housing
Eli Smith

Many of incremental development’s values — localism, quality and civic pride — align well with those of houses of worship. If faith communities embrace this model, we could see a wave of faith-based housing that complements the broader movement toward incremental development.

Eli Smith
Bottom-Up Shorts: How To Make Your City’s Finances More Accessible
Strong Towns
Bottom-Up Shorts: How To Make Your City’s Finances More Accessible
Strong Towns

David Jenkins is a city councilor and Local Conversation leader in La Plata, Maryland. He joins Norm to discuss his work with the city’s budget, particularly his efforts to share financial information in a simple way that lets residents participate in the budgeting process. (Transcript included.)

Strong Towns
Denver’s Backyard Cottage Pilot Program Saves Communities and Families
Strong Towns
Denver’s Backyard Cottage Pilot Program Saves Communities and Families
Strong Towns

Many city officials are struggling to provide affordable housing for their communities. In Denver, a group of city officials, community leaders and nonprofit organizations decided to try something different.

Strong Towns
How Accessory Dwelling Units Are Helping These People Thrive
Asia Mieleszko
How Accessory Dwelling Units Are Helping These People Thrive
Asia Mieleszko

Thriving places are built by the people who live in them, and the strongest reforms are ones that empower these people to shape their own futures. Here are some of the people who are thriving because of their cities' empowering housing policies.

Asia Mieleszko
The Starter Home: A Forgotten Path to Affordable Housing
Edward Erfurt
The Starter Home: A Forgotten Path to Affordable Housing
Edward Erfurt

The Suburban Experiment killed the starter home. Here's how cities can bring it back to life.

Edward Erfurt
Why Housing ‘Efficiency’ Isn’t Making Homes Affordable
Charles Marohn
Why Housing ‘Efficiency’ Isn’t Making Homes Affordable
Charles Marohn

Many people think that increased efficiency and economies of scale in the housing market are the key to affordability. However, these benefits are not actually appearing. We do need innovation, but not in the form of new interest rate manipulations or complex securitization schemes.

Charles Marohn
4 Cities That Are Slashing Outdated Parking Mandates
Asia Mieleszko
4 Cities That Are Slashing Outdated Parking Mandates
Asia Mieleszko

Across North America, parking mandates harm businesses, residents and cities. Fortunately, a rapidly growing number of cities are questioning these requirements, inching toward reforming or even repealing them altogether. Here are some of the communities that are rethinking their approaches.

Asia Mieleszko
Charles Marohn