I’ve admired Ben Hunt and Rusty Guinn’s work for a long time. They have a rare ability to cut through noise and get to the heart of how narratives shape our lives. They know — intuitively but also analytically — how the[...]
Commentary |
Tag: Strong Towns
Curio |
A Lesson in Light
Most nights, after dinner, I take the dog for a walk. Gryffindor and I make a slow loop through Gregory Park, a few blocks from my house, a routine I’ve done so many times that I hardly think about it. In the[...]
Curio |
Want Healthy Kids and Supportive Communities? Start With a Block Party.
Vanessa Elias has a simple prescription for one of America’s most complex problems: throw a block party. At a time when loneliness is linked to the health risks of smoking a pack a day, and when many children grow up without the[...]
Commentary |
Abundance and the Infrastructure Litmus Test
Back in June, I wrote a column about “Abundance,” the new book by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein. I found much to admire in it, but I also came away uneasy. My primary concern was with the technocratic flavor of the argument,[...]
Curio |
Don’t Look Now, But Montana Is Leading on Housing Policy
Montana isn’t waiting for a housing crisis to get worse—it’s rewriting the rules to stop one in its tracks. With rising home prices and a flood of new residents, the state has pushed forward with bold reforms, legalizing duplexes and small multifamily[...]
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Curio |
This California City is Doing the Math
Artesia, California is in the financial black today—but staying that way is another story. That’s the lesson from a recent deep dive into the city’s finances using the Strong Towns Finance Decoder, a tool that’s helping communities across North America rethink fiscal[...]
Curio |
Forget Growth for Growth’s Sake—Langley, B.C. Residents Want to Know What Pays (and why it matters in Minot)
Where does a city really make its money—and where does it quietly bleed it away? In Langley, British Columbia, residents took that question seriously and built a value-per-acre map to find out. Inspired by national nonprofit Strong Towns, the map breaks down[...]
Curio |
Small Town America vs Big Box Stores
In Washington, Maine, a small-town store owner is fighting to protect more than just his business — he’s defending a way of life. Across the country, communities like his are pushing back against Dollar General, not just because of what these stores[...]
Curio |
Nook and Cranny Urbanism: How Historic Cities Maximize Every Inch of Space
Walk through the streets of a historic city like Annapolis, and you’ll feel it—every alley, every irregular building tucked into a forgotten corner tells a story of adaptation and growth. These places weren’t built all at once; they evolved, making the most[...]
Curio |
Listen: Improving Downtown Success by Building Experiences
**Jaime Izurieta is an architect, designer and author from Montclair, New Jersey, who focuses on the interaction between users and the built environment.** He’s also the founder of Storefront Mastery, an award-winning creative agency that works with place management organizations to design[...]
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Curio |
How Minimum Lot Size Requirements Maximize the Housing Crisis
Imagine a city where homes are attainable, communities are vibrant, and frustrating commutes are a thing of the past. This vision can be a reality if we rethink outdated zoning laws, and one of the biggest offenders is the section that creates[...]
Curio |
Strong Towns Movement Taking Root in Fargo
Meet Zachary Taylor, an electrical engineering student at NDSU with a vision for Fargo’s streets. Alongside his team at Strong Towns Fargo, Zachary advocates for a city where streets aren’t just for cars but for people—pedestrians, cyclists, and families seeking connection. In[...]