Eliminate the Guesswork in Safe Street Design

Traffic calming interventions are best when they not only make the environment safer for everyone outside of a car, but when they do so in a way that reduces the mental load for drivers.

It’s Time to Stop Getting “Used to It”

Let’s save our capacity to adapt for better design choices.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedMarch 5, 2024suburban experiment

The Symbols in the City

Everything in the city communicates something about what we value.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedFebruary 20, 2024safe and productive streets, sidewalks

Build Tapestries, Not Just Buildings

We should think of city blocks like tapestries.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedFebruary 13, 2024texas, design

Award-Winning Show "Beef" Offers a Subtle Commentary on Auto-Oriented Design

This brilliant story about alienation starts with two people alone in their cars.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 30, 2024auto-oriented, car culture

Greek Life Part Two: Citizen vs. Subject

A citizen is a rightful participant in directly shaping the fabric of their city. So…are modern Americans citizens of their cities, or just subjects?

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 23, 2024cities

Build the Urbs, but Don’t Forget the Polis

A community is more than just its built environment: it’s also the strong, intergenerational civic ties that connect its citizens to each other.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 16, 2024cities

There’s No Shortcut to Lasting Revitalization

Dreaming of big goals for the year can be fun, but it’s also necessary to think of the small steps needed to reach those goals. Similarly, cities need to consider the small things they need to do to achieve long-term prosperity.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 9, 2024downtown, small bets

4 Hopeful Takeaways From Hosting The Bottom-Up Revolution Podcast

Here are four lessons from local advocates who are out there doing the work right now, in different ways, to make their places better.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 2, 2024The Bottom-Up Revolution, podcast

The Language of Place

For anyone who wants to care for their community, being able to properly name what you see is an essential first step.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedDecember 12, 2023jane jacobs

Kids These Days…Deserve Better

Teenagers are a sadly overlooked asset group in our communities. Reimagining the future of our communities with them in mind is a simple but powerful way to position our cities for long-term success.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedDecember 5, 2023children, community

Cities Need Infill Community, Not Just Infill Housing

Our cities need more housing, but perhaps even more urgently, our neighborhoods need more neighbors.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedNovember 28, 2023Incremental Housing, accessory dwelling unit, community, psychology

Mind the Gap

Incrementalism and humility are key to avoiding a gap between what we think we’re accomplishing with the designs of our built environment versus what people actually experience when navigating it.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedNovember 21, 2023safe and productive streets, Street Design, stroad

You’ve Got the Power

In a time of increasing political and social turbulence, Strong Towns advocates and members are a reminder that local is where the real power to enact change lies.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedNovember 14, 2023member week