Strongest Town 2023 Championship Round
It all comes down to this.
We started out with 16 amazing towns and cities. After three rounds—written answers, photo essays, commentary from Strong Towns members—and thousands of votes cast, we’re down to just two:
Saranac Lake, New York and Brattleboro, Vermont
Now, for our final round, Strong Towns Program Director Rachel Quednau interviews representatives from these two communities in a webinar. You can watch it above or on the Strong Towns YouTube channel.
Voting closes at noon CT on Thursday, April 13. You can vote once in the contest. For full contest rules, and to catch up with the first three rounds, visit the Strongest Town page.
VOTING FOR THIS ROUND IS NOW CLOSED. RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 14.
We’ll announce the winner on April 14. This year’s winning delegation will also be flown to the Strong Towns National Gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it will receive the award in person on May 31.
And, if you need some additional help choosing a champion, here’s bonus commentary on each town by Strong Towns member Rebecca Holderness!
Brattleboro, VT
What is one thing about this city (or that this city is doing) that most reflects a Strong Towns approach?
Brattleboro has instituted and supported an initiative to create housing. The proposed Missing Middle Infill Housing section states, “This section is intended to facilitate creation of missing middle housing in the developed areas of Brattleboro.” This reflects the Strong Towns approach not only in intent, but in its accessibility and simplified permitting process. Laudably, the proposed section includes detailed photos and descriptions of different missing-middle housing types, which, if chosen for a proposed development, provide a simplified permitting process. Smart way to support success of the initiative!
What is one thing that seems to you to be an obstacle or challenge to this city’s present or future financial strength and resilience?
It’s not clear from the application whether or not there is a master plan in place to further resolve current and upcoming infrastructure challenges in a town with urban and rural areas. This part of Vermont is very concerned with natural conservation. Brattleboro is also a current and former site of industry. How is the town looking to sustain investment, support change that may come in it its rural/urban composition, while taking care of any remediation that might be required? Is there a master plan with a vision for the town 15 years from now?
Any final thoughts on this city's submissions for Round 1 and Round 2?
I was very appreciative of the Round 2 photos, which gave me an expansive view of the town, and a sense of its positive interaction between groups, generations, and lifestyles in civic space
Saranac Lake, NY
What is one thing about this city (or that this city is doing) that most reflects a Strong Towns approach?
Saranac Lake hits all the major points of a small strong town. The town’s long-term commitment to transportation accessibility and variety, housing flexibility, and infrastructure redesign (where possible) is remarkable.
There is no single-family zoning in the town, which I find impressive. The town is organized around multi-modal transportation with careful deliberation. The commitment to connecting the streets and trails to each other, shopping, and the beautiful nature around is impressive. The entire village is navigable by foot. In fact, the community is engaged in preserving these connected trails and paths, and there is clear commitment to walkability.
What is one thing that seems to you to be an obstacle or challenge to this city’s present or future financial strength and resilience?
Saranac Lake’s strength is also its vulnerability. With no geographic room to grow and limited industry, how does it secure future economic growth? (In other words, how do they plan to attract new and diverse industry to secure needed growth?)
Any final thoughts on this city's submissions for earlier rounds?
The pictures of the area are beautiful, but I discovered that Saranac Lake is full of events and beauty at every time of the year. I would have loved more photos.
Rebecca Holderness is the founder/CEO of 2Ft.D, a SAAS business for the entrepreneurial developer and the capital investment that supports them. 2Ft.D is automated expertise for incremental development aimed at breaking the barriers for growth that works for communities now and in the long haul.