Rik Adamski is the founder of a planning firm that strives to help cities create thriving places by drawing on the wisdom of the past. He joins this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to discuss his approach to planning and the challenges of implementing a new planning approach in cities.
Read MoreAnnexation is a method of city growth in which parcels or developments are added to municipal borders by city officials and staff. It's usually a disaster for a city's finances. But there are a few (very rare) cases where it might be advantageous.
Read MoreIt’s Member Drive Week here at Strong Towns. To celebrate, Chuck’s reading some of his best articles that you might’ve missed. Today, he’s reading “Most Public Engagement Is Worthless,” which explains why, instead of focusing on what people think they want, planners should focus on people’s actions and then adjust their policies to compliment the way real people actually live.
Read MoreUrban planning involves a lot of jargon that can be obscure or confusing. Here’s one term you might not have heard, but that can make a big difference in the design of your city.
Read MoreThe best time to influence a development proposal so that it fits well into its urban context is early, not late, in the process.
Read MoreAccording to the United States Census, prior to the pandemic, half of all businesses in the U.S. were home based and nearly eight million people worked primarily from home…but according to urban planners, this is illegal!?
Read MoreOn this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, host Chuck Marohn chats with Conor Semler, an associate planner with Kittelson and Associates who’s promoting some innovative approaches to transportation planning.
Read MoreIn Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, children are invited to share their input on how public spaces should be designed, using a popular video game.
Read More“What if scrapping one flawed policy could bring U.S. cities closer to addressing debilitating housing shortages, stunted growth and innovation, persistent racial and economic segregation, and car-dependent development?”
Read MoreDevelopers and builders often ask the same question: “What can I build on x lot?” But what is it that they’re actually looking for, and how can the urban planners they work with help them make the most of a given space?
Read MoreThe state of Florida has a bold new strategy to eliminate the adverse effects of urban sprawl: Change the definition.
Read MoreIn the 10th anniversary edition of his book Walkable City, Jeff Speck suggests a new pledge that professional planners should take in order to qualify for certification—and to better serve society.
Read MoreBuilding to the street can create urban form and character, and increase the productivity of a site—even a site like this airport hotel.
Read MoreMixed-use development was once the norm in cities and towns, but most Americans no longer remember how it works. Here are 3 easy-to-understand forms that mixed use could (and should) take in your community.
Read MoreOur most famous case study revealed the high cost of auto-oriented development. But what if a little creative rearrangement could make things a whole lot better?
Read MoreStrong Towns member Spencer Gardner is the new planning director for the city of Spokane, WA, and he’s been helping his city take action on important housing issues.
Read MoreAs people interested in undoing damage caused by the rise of the suburban development pattern, how should we feel about so-called “McMain Streets”?
Read MoreToday, city planning departments obsess over what happens inside buildings but pay scant attention to the quality of the space outside them.
Read MoreFor the sake of our cities and the people who live in them, it’s time we fundamentally rethink how we regulate land in America. Read about it in this excerpt from Nolan Gray’s new book, Arbitrary Lines.
Read MoreThe problems with "community input" are many and obvious. One misguided response is to favor more top-down policy making, simply overriding the objections of local "NIMBYs." But there is a third way.
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