Hitsville U.S.A. is known for producing artists, recordings and a distinctive Detroit sound, but it also represents an important element of a strong city: mixed-use development. If Detroit hadn’t let Berry Gordy turn the first floor of his home into a recording studio, Motown Records might not exist today.
Read MoreDo you have a favorite food truck? These micro businesses are often features of their communities, and they represent an important stage of incremental development. But strict zoning laws can put these businesses at risk. Hot Dog House FL learned this the hard way when parking mandates evicted them from their main operating location.
Read MoreThe era of corner stores and mom-and-pop shops has mostly come to an end, with modern zoning codes strictly segregating commercial and residential areas. But a return to the mixed-use model might be just what we need to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen people's sense of community.
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 MoreConventional thought would tell us that the new commercial developments in a city should be the most productive compared to the older buildings downtown, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Read MoreNo thanks to parking mandates, it took two years of fighting to get this local coffee shop open in Dallas…but even then, it wasn’t a total win for its owner.
Read MoreFor the past four years, Jessica Peacock has been fighting her city’s zoning laws in order to get her great-grandparents’ neighborhood grocery store reopened.
Read MoreStarting a business can be daunting, but this California city has made one relatively small bet that’s helping scores of local entrepreneurs get their small businesses off the ground.
Read MoreWe lost more than just food access when we stripped small shops out of residential neighborhoods.
Read MoreA local fitness center in Chisholm, MN, shows that you don’t need to look far outside of your city or town to find the best people to develop it.
Read MoreEntrepreneurship makes Main Street go round, but those working in the field have to remember that building owners are entrepreneurs, too, and they should be getting a lot more attention.
Read MoreReopening a neighborhood store that was a fixture in its community for decades shouldn’t be this hard.
Read MoreFor nearly half a year, this small business owner has been ready to open his coffee shop…but the city is refusing to let him do so, all because of antiquated parking mandates.
Read MorePhiladelphia is a great place to visit, but not because it’s a great place to park. City officials don’t seem to see it that way, though, given the recent restrictions placed on its outdoor dining program.
Read MoreA small, local, mixed-use business versus a new Amazon warehouse. Let’s put these two business proposals before the Shark Tank (Winnipeg edition).
Read MoreFront yard businesses were once a natural stage in the evolution of a community. So where have they all gone, and how do we bring them back?
Read MoreThese Strong Towns advocates started an electric bike company in Calgary, AB, and are passionate about how biking changes the way you see your city.
Read MoreWe’ve explored the outside of Fairfax County’s Eden Center before, but what does the inside of this surprisingly fine-grained strip mall look like?
Read MoreThese pop-up shops in Berwyn, IL, are a great example of how communities can provide low-cost, low-risk spaces for local business owners to get their foot in the door.
Read MoreA visit to a home restaurant in Rovinj, Croatia, shows the kind of small businesses and good urbanism that we could have in the U.S. if we just relaxed our zoning codes.
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