Upzoned

Historic Bridge Battle: Will 1 Town Profit While the Other Pays? Oct 29, 2025

Two towns, two states, and two historic bridges that nobody wants to pay for. Brattleboro, Vermont, wants to reactivate two historic bridges with a pedestrian greenway. Hinsdale, New Hampshire, worries about increased crime and being saddled with the majority of maintenance costs while getting fewer returns. Abby and Norm discuss this dilemma, comparing it to similar bridge projects and identifying possible next steps for activating this underutilized infrastructure.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

"Can Two Towns Preserve the Bridges That Connected Them?" by Alan Wirzbicki, The Boston Globe (September 2025)
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter)
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

When a Town's Biggest Taxpayer Becomes Its Biggest Problem Oct 22, 2025

What do you do with 720,000 square feet of dead mall? Towns across America are struggling to find the answer as their malls shut down, leaving budget craters and infrastructure nightmares in their wake. Abby is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar, Strong Towns' chief of staff and a former city staffer, to explore whether the answer is a grand redevelopment plan — or thinking radically smaller.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“A Town's Single Largest Taxpayer Is Also Its Biggest Headache” by Jim Zarroli, The New York Times (June 2025).
Click here to listen to The Bottom-Up Revolution episode about the 24 Hour Citizen Project.
‍Abby Newsham (X/Twitter)

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

2 Towns, 2 Responses to the Housing Crisis. Which Will Succeed? Oct 15, 2025

Littleton, Colorado, wants to ban everything other than single-family homes. The neighboring town of Lakewood wants to allow more housing variety. Norm and Abby dive into what's driving these radically different responses to the housing crisis and what happens when cities try to exempt themselves from change.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Two Denver Suburbs Take Different Paths as Residents Face Housing Crunch: We Can Manage It, but Just Barely.” by John Aguilar, The Denver Post (October 2025).
Abby Newsham
- Painting Instagram
- X/Twitter
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Public Transit Will Collapse in a Year. Should We Save It? Oct 08, 2025

By the end of 2026, many U.S. cities could see large parts of their public transit systems crumble under a lack of federal funding and a development pattern that was never designed to support it. In this episode, Chuck Marohn and Abby Newsham explore why transit can’t survive as a charity and how localized funding and smarter land use could create systems that actually work.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

On October 24, Chuck will join the author of today's article, Jarrett Walker, for a member-exclusive deep dive into transit. Become a Strong Towns member to join in!
“Should We Let Public Transit Die?” by Jarrett Walker, Bloomberg City Lab (September 2025)
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).‍‍
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

LA Just Avoided 1600 Layoffs. Is That a Good Thing? Oct 01, 2025

The city of Los Angeles recently announced that it saved 1,600 jobs that were at risk of being cut to balance its $1 billion budget deficit. But did it actually fix anything, or is it just shuffling money around to hide the problem? What role do unions play? And what should cities actually do when facing a major budget deficit?

Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt dives into these questions with guest host Norm Van Eeden Petersman in this episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Mayor Bass says layoffs averted after labor negotiations, "creative solutions" for next year city budget” by Chelsea Hylton, CBS News (September 2025).
Finance Decoder
Become a Strong Towns member to access weekly Ask Strong Towns Anything sessions.
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)
Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Tulsa Offers Remote Workers $10K To Move. Is It Paying Off? Sep 24, 2025

The Tulsa Remote program pays remote workers $10,000 to relocate to Tulsa for a year. A study found that, for every dollar spent, Tulsa sees $4.31 in economic benefits, including increased local spending, tax revenue, and job creation. Abby is joined by John Pattinson, Strong Towns’ community builder, discuss whether this kind of program is a smart way to boost the local economy.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move” by Rthvika Suvarna and Fola Akinnibi, Bloomberg CityLab (May 2025).‍
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).‍‍
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Housing Supply Is About to Exceed Demand. Now What? Sep 17, 2025

As baby boomers downsize, relocate, or pass away, millions of homes are projected to rejoin the housing market by 2030, potentially exceeding housing demand by 1 million homes. In today's episode, Chuck and Abby discuss how generational shifts affect the housing market, what an excess of supply could mean for cities' financial stability, and how a simple "build, build, build" mindset could cause serious problems down the line.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Forget YIMBY. The housing shortage could disappear on its own.” by Robert Showah, The Washington Post (September 2025).‍
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).‍‍
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Can a Tax on House Flipping Stop Canada's Housing Crisis? Sep 10, 2025

For years, investors and speculators shaped Canada's housing market. But now, people who actually live in those homes are beginning to have more influence. Today, Abby is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Towns' director of membership and a Canadian, to discuss how this shift happened, how it'll affect Canada's housing market, and the implications for the rest of North America.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“End-users, rather than investors, expected to drive Vancouver housing market higher” by Kerry Gold, The Globe and Mail (September 2025).‍
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).‍
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)‍
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How Mortgage Fraud Makes the Housing Market More Expensive Sep 03, 2025

Several high-profile members of the government have been accused of committing mortgage fraud recently, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Today, Chuck and Abby explore how mortgage fraud distorts the housing market, why it happens so frequently — and why no one in the financial system is interested in stopping it.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Ken Paxton Claimed Three Houses as His Primary Residence, Records Show” by Pooja Salhotra, The New York Times (July 2025).
“Mortgage-Fraud Accusations Are Trump’s New Political Weapon” by Gina Heeb and Brian Schwartz, The Wall Street Journal (August 2025).
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Are Sponge Cities the Flood Control Fix We Need? Aug 27, 2025

Join Abby and guest John Pattison as they dive into the benefits and drawbacks of "sponge cities," cities that incorporate natural features like wetlands into their stormwater management infrastructure. Is this method more resilient in the long term? Do the benefits outweigh the massive cost? How does this relate to the incremental, bottom-up approach? They’ll cover all this and more in today’s episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“‘Sponge City’: Copenhagen Adapts to a Wetter Future” by Paul Hockenos, Yale Environment 360 (July 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Why Data Center Electricity Use "Scares Me to the Bone" Aug 20, 2025

Data centers power everything from cloud computing to artificial intelligence, and they use a massive amount of electricity, sometimes even rivaling major cities. Watchdogs claim that tech companies aren’t absorbing the costs of this electricity use, causing rate payers’ electricity bills to spike as they’re forced to subsidize these data centers. Today, Edward and Abby discuss the far-reaching implications of this kind of land use.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“As electric bills rise, evidence mounts that data centers share blame. States feel pressure to act.” by Marc Levy, AP News (August 2025).
Want to bring the conversation to your community? Book Edward as a speaker.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Why Colorado Is Facing a Senior Housing Crisis Aug 13, 2025

Colorado's population is rapidly aging. Soon, one in five people in the state will be be over 65 years old. Limited housing stock means seniors are stuck in too-large homes that they can’t afford to maintain. In turn, that means there’s fewer large homes for younger families who need them.

Today, Abby is joined by Katy Clagett, an incremental developer originally from Colorado who’s working to develop infill housing options for seniors. They discuss what Colorado’s situation means for communities and how we can reshape housing to be more adaptable to the needs of all age groups.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“As Colorado ages, seniors are colliding with the housing crisis” by Brian Eason, The Colorado Sun (June 2025).
Learn how to create a more flexible housing market.
Katy Claggett
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Why LA Is Struggling To Rebuild 6 Months After Wildfires Aug 06, 2025

In January 2025, wildfires swept across Los Angeles with record-breaking destruction. To encourage swift rebuilding, Governor Newsom suspended environmental regulations. But six months later, only a fraction of homeowners have even received permits, let alone started the rebuilding process. Chuck is joined by Edward Erfurt, Strong Towns’ chief technical advisor, to talk about why, as well as the deeper challenges of rebuilding in fire-prone areas.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Why it’s taking LA so long to rebuild” by Umair Irfan, Vox (July 2025).
Want to bring the conversation to your community? Book Chuck or Edward as a speaker.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Want To Use This Rural Road? That’ll Be $50K Jul 30, 2025

In Lincoln County, South Dakota, a growing agriculture company is being charged $50,000 annually for wear and tear on township roads caused by the company's trucks and machinery.

Abby and Edward discuss the balancing act between infrastructure costs and municipal budgets, especially in rural areas with few taxpayers. They explore the public process behind this kind of decision and offer suggestions on how it could be improved.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Milk facility to pay $50,000 for road use” by Rae Yost, KELOLAND (July 2025).
Want to bring the conversation to your community? Book Edward as a speaker.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Suburbs Broke the American Sunbelt. Now What? Jul 16, 2025

Sunbelt cities like Phoenix, Dallas, and Atlanta have long prided themselves on having affordable and abundant housing. However, they’re now seeing stagnation in housing construction and rapidly rising costs. Today, Abby is joined by Rachel Leonardo, a trained architect and Strong Towns’ video creator, to discuss how rigid single-use zoning has locked cities into expensive fragility. They explore whether these cities can course correct and how they could become more resilient and prosperous in the long-term.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Here are 6 simple ways to make housing more affordable in your community.
“Sprawl made the American Sunbelt affordable. Now it’s breaking it.” by Marina Bolotnikova, Vox (July 2025).
See Rachel’s work:
- Studio Leonardo (YouTube)
- Strong Towns (YouTube)
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

How To Stop Slumlords and Protect Urban Spaces Jul 02, 2025

Today, Abby is joined by Bernice Radle, a small-scale developer and historic building preservationist from Buffalo, New York. They cover two developing stories: First, a new bill was proposed that would give the Buffalo housing court more power to sell or repair buildings taken from absentee or negligent landlords. Second, the Historic Preservation Fund is currently at risk.

Bernice and Abby discuss how these changes could affect small-scale developers and historic preservationists. Bernice also explores how these two fields are closely linked and should work together to save urban spaces.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Proposed bill would give Buffalo housing court greater authority over derelict properties” by Nate Benson, WGRZ (May 2025).
“Preservation Under Threat: A Critical Moment for the Historic Preservation Fund” by Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo Rising (June 2025).
See more from Bernice:
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

A Strong Towns View of the New SpaceX Company Town May 14, 2025

Residents of Boca Chica, Texas, have voted to turn their community into a new official city called Starbase. This new municipality is tightly controlled by SpaceX leadership and most residents are SpaceX employees, which has raised concerns about the reemergence of company towns.

In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by our Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt to discuss the Strong Towns perspective on this story.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Elon Musk’s company town: SpaceX employees vote to create ‘Starbase’” by Nick Robins-Early, The Guardian (May 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

California Universities Face a $17 Billion Growth Ponzi Scheme May 07, 2025

As of the 2023-24 academic year, the University of California faces $9.1 billion in deferred maintenance, while California State University faces $8.3 billion. In today’s episode, Chuck and Abby explore how this problem arose, how it mirrors the challenges cities are facing, and what it'll take to manage this decline.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Inside a $17 billion maintenance backlog plaguing California’s universities” by Victoria Mejicanos, Matthew Reagan and Mercy Sosa, CalMatters (April 2025).
Learn more about the Growth Ponzi Scheme and how to evaluate your own city’s financial position.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Will Privatizing Mortgages Fix the Housing Market? Apr 09, 2025

President Trump has proposed the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, organizations that back the majority of mortgages in the U.S. and have been under a government conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. In this Upzoned episode, Chuck and Abby discuss the proposal and how it would affect the housing market.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“How Trump plans to get government out of the mortgage business” by Paige Sutherland and Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR On Point (March 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Can We Take Community Wealth Back From Walmart and Kroger? Mar 19, 2025

In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt to discuss the emergence of food deserts in the United States. In the 1980s, the U.S. government stopped enforcing price discrimination laws, letting large supermarkets use their size to leverage better prices from suppliers. This led to the closure of many small, independent groceries and helped create today's food deserts.

Abby and Edward discuss the shift from grocery stores being neighborhood assets to regional destinations and how that extracts wealth from communities. Then they share bottom-up ways that everyday people can address these food shortages in their communities.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Great Grocery Squeeze: How a federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desert” by Stacy Mitchell, The Atlantic(December 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

What Does the Future Look Like for Tiny Towns? Mar 05, 2025

Co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the challenges faced by Victoria, Prince Edward Island, a town in Canada that only has 139 full-time residents. In an attempt to attract new residents, the town has adopted its first five-year development plan.

Chuck and Abby talk about how very small towns like Victoria show the absurdities of the Suburban Experiment best — and feel its consequences most keenly. They explore what the future could look like for communities like this and emphasize the importance of embracing the things that make a specific town special instead of trying to copy suburban subdivisions.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Population growth called 'critical' for the sustainability of Victoria, P.E.I.” by Sara Fraser, CBC News (February 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How a Popular Development Practice Backfires on Homeowners Feb 26, 2025

Residents of a neighborhood in Colorado are confronting a $434 million debt incurred by their community’s special taxing district, which was set up by developers to finance the neighborhood’s infrastructure. A group of neighbors are now organizing to take control of the district’s board and try to bring transparency to the financial situation.

In today’s episode of Upzoned, Abby is joined by Edward Erfurt, Strong Towns’ chief technical advisor. They discuss how using special taxing districts to fund developments is a common practice, how it leads to snowballing debt, and how difficult it is for residents to manage this kind of situation.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The largest neighborhood of this Colorado city is $434M in debt. Neighbors are now seeking board control.” by Olivia Young, CBS News(February 2025).
This Thursday, February 27, Strong Towns will release a toolkit to help city officials welcome incremental housing development. Learn more here. Become a member to join the launch livestream with experts Alli Thurmond Quinlan (Incremental Development Alliance) and Eric Kronberg (Kronberg Urbanists + Architects).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How To Handle the Looming Shortage of Senior Housing Feb 19, 2025

The U.S. senior housing market is poised to shift from a surplus to a shortage in the next five years, as the oldest baby boomers turn 80 by 2030. In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Towns’ director of Movement Building. They unpack the implications of this market shift and discuss what building more options for older adults could look like.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Aging Boomers Are About to Rekindle the Senior-Housing Market” by Peter Grant, The Wall Street Journal (February 2025).
Read more:
- “Seniors Have Large Suburban Houses To Sell. Does Anyone Want Them?” (Strong Towns).
- “The Great Senior Short Sale or Why Policy Inertia Will Short Change Millions of America's Seniors” (Journal of Comparative Urban Law and Policy).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How To Reform Chicago Zoning: The Western Avenue Project Feb 12, 2025

In this episode, Abby is joined by Chicago aldermen Matt Martin and Andre Vasquez to discusses the Western Avenue corridor study, one of the most ambitious planning efforts Chicago has seen in decades. It includes widespread rezoning reform, and it also addresses affordable housing, economic vitality and transit efficiency. The aldermen share their approach to rezoning, emphasizing the importance of a community-first approach.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Let’s fix Western Avenue and make Chicago stronger” by Aaron Feldman, Chicago Tribune(June 2024).
There are 6 easy code reforms that city officials can use to bring more housing to their communities. We will release a toolkit to help you implement these changes in February 2025. Get a sneak peek here and join our mailing list to be notified when this resource is available.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Why Massachusetts Might Sue Its Cities Over Zoning Codes Jan 29, 2025

In 2021, Massachusetts signed a law requiring communities that are served by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to legalize multifamily housing development near MBTA transit stations. Recently, a state court ruled that the state has the authority to sue cities and towns that don’t comply.

In this episode of Upzoned, Abby and Chuck discuss whether that’s a good idea, the broader trend of states intervening in city zoning practices, and how the root issue is actually poor transportation investment practices.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Court Ruling Paves the Way For State to Sue Towns With Exclusionary Zoning Laws” by Christian MilNeil, StreetsblogMASS(January 2025).
“Our Financial System Favors Large-Scale Development…but at What Cost?” with Coby Lefkowitz.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How Homeowner’s Insurance May Change in the Wake of California Wildfires Jan 22, 2025

In California, many major insurers have recently dropped homeowners in high risk areas from their plans, forcing them to seek alternate coverage with the state. However the state has nowhere near enough money to cover current property damage costs, a situation that will likely get worse as wildfires continue to burn.

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the impact of natural disasters on the insurance industry, the feasibility of government-run insurance programs, and what this might mean for California in the long term.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Support Southern California Wildfire Relief. (Thank you to Strong Towns Artesia for providing this resource!)
“California’s Insurance System Faces Crucial Test as Losses Mount” by Christopher Flavelle, The New York Times (January 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Is Life More Difficult for Younger Generations? Jan 08, 2025

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Kevin Klinkenberg, an urban designer, planner and executive director of a place management organization. They discuss how a middle-class life — especially homeownership — has become increasingly difficult for younger generations to attain. They also cover the factors that contribute to this difficulty and possible responses.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Transcript available on our site.
“Is a Middle Class Life Still Attainable?” by Tom Owens, Aaron Renn Substack(December 2024).
Read more from Kevin Klinkenberg on Strong Towns or his Substack The Messy City.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Motivated Reasoning: The Psychology Behind Big Municipal Projects Dec 04, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn talk about satellite communities — towns that are developed a distance away from existing urbanized areas. They also discuss the psychological phenomena that incline people toward big projects that may solve an immediate issue (such as housing) but will cause larger difficulties later on (such as maintenance debt).

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Tewin's $590M infrastructure bill locks in 'forever sprawl,' councillor says” by Arthur White-Crummey, CBC Ottawa(June 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).

Urban Forests Are the Stroads of Urban Environmental Policy Nov 27, 2024

Canada needs an additional 3.5 million housing units by 2030, and that means Canadian cities — as well as many others throughout North America — are facing the challenge of building more housing without wasting natural resources like mature trees. In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss this balancing act, the high value that trees bring to a community, and why sacrificing “urban forests” for housing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing those trees.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Can urban forests survive the housing boom?” by Hanna Hett, Canada’s National Observer(October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The Goldilocks Option: Why Townhouses Might Be Just Right for Housing Development Nov 20, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined byAndrew Ganahl, managing partner of a real estate development company that specializes in urban infill housing. They discuss a Washington Post article about townhouses, exploring the benefits of this style of development and Ganahl’s own experiences with building townhouses in Kansas City.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The new American Dream should be a townhouse” by Amanda Shendruk and Heather Long, The Washington Post(October 2024).
Andrew Ganahl (AND Real Estate site).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Here’s Why You May See More Corner Stores in the Future Nov 13, 2024

Post-COVID-19, there’s been a resurgence of interest in mixed-use neighborhoods, leading some cities to allow for small corner stores even in neighborhoods that are otherwise residential only.

In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Newsham is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, the director of membership and development for Strong Towns. They discuss the role that small corner stores play in local economies, the benefits of allowing residents to continue using and creating these kinds of businesses, and how to talk to your local government about allowing this kind of use in your own community.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Become a member today!
“The Corner Store Comeback” by Linda Baker, Bloomberg (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Deferred Maintenance Dilemma: Why Florida’s Condo Market Is Floundering Nov 06, 2024

After the collapse of a Florida condo made national news in 2021, new safety regulations were enacted, requiring nearly 90% of Florida units to be updated. This left condo owners and buyers blindsided by a large backlog of deferred maintenance costs with no money saved to pay for them.

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn explain that this situation is an example of the Growth Ponzi Scheme, where maintenance costs are hidden by rapid growth until they eventually come due and bury people or communities in debt. They discuss the effect deferred maintenance has on individuals and communities and explore possible paths forward.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Why Owning (and Buying) a Florida Condo Has ‘Turned Into a Nightmare’” by Julia Echikson, The New York Times (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Can “Urban Homesteading” Help Cities Fight the Housing Crisis? Oct 23, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by John Anderson, a builder and developer in Georgia, to discuss the Strong Towns take on “urban homesteading,” where cities sell derelict houses to people for $1 in exchange for a promise to renovate the property and live there for a period of time.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Can Selling Off Homes for $1 Solve Urban Blight?” by Rowan Bridge, BBC (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

What Is the Strong Towns Response to Natural Disasters? Oct 16, 2024

Editor's Note: We are deeply saddened to see the damage Hurricane Helene has done to Western North Carolina. Please see the additional notes for ways you can help.

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss managed retreat, where the federal government buys land from people to encourage them to move away from areas at high risk for natural disaster. According to the article, to actually move the necessary amount of people, the government needs to increase its efforts by a factor of 200.

Chuck and Abby talk about the issues with this method of natural disaster management, as well as other common approaches like rebuilding disaster areas to be more fortified, and share their thoughts on alternative responses to natural disasters.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Ways to help Western North Carolina, suggested by Local Conversations in the area:
“Retreating From the Coasts Makes Sense, But Our Current Approach Isn’t Working,” by Tim Robustelli and Yuliya Panfil, Shelterforce Magazine (August 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Can Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Technology Make Streets Safer? Oct 09, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a national deployment plan of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, a wireless communication tool that allows vehicles to transmit data on speed, location, road condition and other basic information. The DOT plans to implement this technology in 75% of the nation's intersections over the next decade or so.

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Strong Towns Director of Community Action Edward Erfurt. They discuss how V2X technology works, the challenges and risks of implementing it, and the alternatives that cities can use to increase safety more quickly and cheaply.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Moonshot Plan to Eliminate Deaths on America’s Roads” by Maria Clara Cobo and Fola Akinnibi, Bloomberg (September 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

From Silos to Success: How To Make City Building More Collaborative Oct 02, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the article “Toward a New Way of Educating City Builders” by Seth Zeren, a founding member of Strong Towns. They discuss the many different disciplines that are responsible for shaping the built environment, the professional silos that often develop between these disciplines, and how a shift in management or the way people think about urban development as a whole could break down these barriers.

If you’d like to hear more of Zeren’s thoughts on city building, check out his appearances on The Bottom-Up Revolution.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Toward a New Way of Educating City Builders” by Seth Zeren, Build the Next Right Thing (September 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Incremental Development: Ladies Power Hour Sep 25, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by small-scale developers Alli Quinlan and Bernice Radle. They discuss their experiences in the field of incremental development, how to make incremental development more feasible in your city, and the importance of encouraging women to become incremental developers.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Is the American Dream out of Reach for Most People? Sep 18, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss a Wall Street Journal article titled “The American Dream Feels Out of Reach for Most.” They talk about how inflation and high housing costs can put the American Dream out of reach for many people, as well as the trade-offs that people may be forced to make between different life priorities, such as career fulfillment and homeownership. They also explore the importance of strong community relationships in finding happiness.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The American Dream Feels Out of Reach for Most” by Rachel Wolfe, The Wall Street Journal (August 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How To Build Better Places Through Small-Scale Development Sep 11, 2024

This week, Upzoned host Abby Newsham and The Messy City Podcast host Kevin Klinkenberg are working together in a special collaborative episode. They are joined by Jim Heid, a Californian landscape architect turned small-scale developer, to discuss the real estate profession and why he thinks it can solve a lot of modern problems.

Heid runs the Small Scale Developer Forum and has a new book called “Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders, and Great Communities.”

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Fire Departments Can Help Make Streets Safer, and Here’s How Sep 04, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the article “Huge Fire Trucks Are Making Us All Less Safe” by Collin Woodard. They talk about how North American fire trucks are unusual for their massive sizes, how accommodating such large trucks makes streets more dangerous and how fire departments could adapt to improve public safety.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Huge Fire Trucks Are Making Us All Less Safe” by Collin Woodard, Yahoo News (August 2024).
The fire engine created by Abby Newsham’s ancestor.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Why Cities Need To Become More Family Friendly Aug 28, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn talk about the rapid population decline of children under five years old in large urban areas. They discuss the factors that can drive would-be urban families out of cities, how the rapidly declining population will affect services like schools and the importance of cities being able to accommodate diverse lifestyles in a dynamic way.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Urban Family Exodus Is a Warning for Progressives,” by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic (August 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

What Los Angeles Can Learn From Paris’ Olympic Village Aug 21, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn talk about the Olympic Village that was built in Paris and what the city plans to do with the development now that the Games are over. They discuss the accusations of gentrification and greenwashing that Paris officials are facing, the challenges inherent in trying to complete large-scale, sustainable projects on a deadline, and lessons that both Paris and Los Angeles — which will be hosting the 2028 Games — can take from past hosts.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Paris Hopes to Forge a New Model for Olympics-Oriented Development,” by Sam Levitt, The Urbanist (July 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Indianapolis Empowers People and Drives Change Through Tactical Urbanism Aug 14, 2024

Indianapolis officials are encouraging residents to be involved in improving the city, both through fund-matching programs and by opening a lending library of tools and equipment to help residents start pilot projects.

In this Upzoned episode, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn talk about how Indianapolis’ programs and initiatives are a great example of changing a city’s bureaucratic structure and processes to better meet residents’ needs. They discuss the growing pains that come with this kind of change and the necessity of officials and residents accepting failure as part of an incremental, experimental process.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Indy puts more resources toward helping communities make quick improvements” by Lauren Kostiuk, WTHR (July 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How To Handle Small-Scale Development Finance: Insights From Kansas City Aug 07, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Jason Carter-Solomon, an incremental developer and commercial lender in Kansas City, to talk about financing small-scale development. They discuss the layers of risk that small-scale developers must navigate, and Solomon offers his perspective and advice on facing common challenges, such as dealing with entitlements and building inspectors.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

You Don’t Actually Want To Abolish Property Taxes, and Here’s Why Jul 31, 2024

This fall, seven states will have the opportunity to cut — or abolish, in some cases — property taxes, according to an article by Governing. In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the Strong Towns perspective on property taxes, the consequences of removing them and how most people (including city officials) don’t realize how much it costs to run a city. Chuck emphasizes that Strong Towns is not anti-tax and that taxes are essential to successfully running any city.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Voters in Several States Can Cut — or Abolish — Property Taxes This Fall” by Zina Hutton, Governing (July 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Why New York City’s Traffic Congestion Plan Crashed and Burned Jul 24, 2024

The governor of New York recently announced the dissolution of the city’s congestion pricing program after years of planning and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. This program would’ve initiated a $15 toll on vehicles entering certain parts of Manhattan, and it was partly established to help support reinvestment in the transit system. It was shut down less than a month before it was supposed to start operating — after all the tolling infrastructure was already installed.

In this episode of Upzoned, Chuck and Abby discuss how this debacle shows a fundamental misunderstanding of congestion pricing, the politics underpinning this decision and how the city could’ve handled things better.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“17 Years, $700 Million Wasted: The Stunning Collapse of New York’s Traffic Moonshot” by Jimmy Vielkind and Joseph De Avila, The Wall Street Journal (June 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Faith in Action: How Religious Institutions Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis Jul 17, 2024

You’ve heard of YIMBYs and NIMBYs, but have you heard of YIGBYs? YIGBY stands for “Yes In God’s Backyard,” and it’s a movement focused on leveraging land owned by religious institutions to alleviate the housing crisis. This has the potential to benefit both people in need of housing and religious institutions.

In this episode of Upzoned, hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the potential benefits of the YIGBY movement, the practicalities of implementing it, and broader mindsets surrounding religious institutions and what their land should be used for.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Yes in God’s backyard?” by Rachel M. Cohen, Vox (June 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The Dollar Difference: Why Rural Poverty Benefits Dollar Stores More Than Urban Jul 10, 2024

This week on Upzoned, hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “The Dollar-Store Showdown Comes Down to Real Estate.” It highlights the differences between Dollar General, which has stores located in mostly rural areas and is expanding its reach, and Family Dollar, which has stores located in mostly urban areas and is closing hundreds of stores.

Why is one of these companies succeeding while the other struggles? And what do dollar stores help or harm poor neighborhoods? Listen to this week’s episode to find out.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Dollar-Store Showdown Comes Down to Real Estate” by Kate King, The Wall Street Journal (April 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

How To Successfully Navigate the World of Incremental Development Jul 03, 2024

Incremental development is the most resilient and financially responsible way for communities to grow and improve. As North America struggles through a housing crisis, this style of development becomes increasingly important.

On this Upzoned episode, host Abby Newsham is joined by town builder Monte Anderson to talk about his experience as an incremental developer and the important principles of the field. Anderson is one of the founders of Incremental Development Alliance, which trains small-scale developers, and a managing partner of Neighborhood Evolution, a development consulting group.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Monte Anderson (site).
“From Gridiron to Groundbreaking” by Nicole Ward, Dallas Innovates (March 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Doug Barrick: Building a Strong Town as a Member of Local Government Jun 26, 2024

In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Doug Barrick, the town manager of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Rutherfordton was one of the contestants in the 2024 Strongest Town Contest. Barrick discusses what it was like to compete, what Rutherfordton is doing to become a stronger town, and how the town’s unique location and history influence those efforts.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Is the Non Profit Sector a Mess of 'Misconduct, Greed and Corruption'? Jun 19, 2024

Nonprofit organizations straddle the line between the private and public sectors, receiving both private donations and funding from the government to provide services. The problem with this model, an article in American Affairs says, is that nonprofits are then motivated to sabotage their own efforts so they can receive more money. This is only one example of the kinds of corruption that flourish within the poorly regulated, overly trusted nonprofit sector, the article argues.

What’s the Strong Towns take on this? And what does it mean for local governments? Join host Abby Newsham and co-host Chuck Marohn on this week’s episode of Upzoned to find out.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Nonprofit Industrial Complex and the Corruption of the American City” by Jonathan Ireland, American Affairs (May 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

An Inside Look at the Strong Towns National Gathering Jun 12, 2024

Last month, Strong Towns hosted the National Gathering in Cincinnati. It was a two-day event packed with different speakers and sessions, with many advocates meeting each other in person for the first time. In this episode of Upzoned, Abby talks with Strong Towns founder Chuck Marohn about his unique experience at the Gathering, the process of choosing a keynote speaker, how the National Gathering differs from the Congress for the New Urbanism and ways Gatherings might change in the future.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

From Bike Lovers to Zoning Experts: The Voices of Strong Towns May 22, 2024

This special edition of Upzoned was recorded last week at the 2024 National Gathering. Join host Abby Newsham as she talks to attendees about their efforts to build stronger towns.

Interviewees:

(0:00) Lisa Hutson, a business owner who’s turning an abandoned factory into a mixed-use community hub.

(8:52) Sean Suder, a zoning reform expert who helps cities make their zoning codes more people-friendly and defensible.

(18:40) Chris Wyatt, a transit advocate who’s working to make public transit more pleasant and useful.

(26:00) Hannah Stanton-Gockel, a bike commuter who uses her marketing experience to advocate for people-centric city design.

(38:41) Isaac Gonzalez, one of the National Gathering presenters, who discusses how to be a good long-term advocate.

(50:40) Jackson Lester, a public transit planner who intends to combat the housing crisis through infill development.

(1:02:15) Jaclyn Cheves, director of policy and partnerships for Blue Zones, who discusses how cities can become healthier places.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Cincinnati Pledges $200K in Funding for Popular Bikeshare Service May 01, 2024

The city of Cincinnati has pledged $200k to keep the popular bikeshare program Red Bike alive for another year. Joining us to talk about bikeshare programs and Red Bike’s financial difficulties is Bryce Mortera, a member of Civic Cincinnati. Are these programs really beneficial for residents? And if so, is there a more sustainable way to fund them than relying on sponsors?

Department of Justice Opens Criminal Investigation Into “Housing Cartel” Apr 24, 2024

The U.S. Department of Justice is opening a criminal investigation into a major software company called RealPage, which is described in the lawsuit as the “big tech” company of rental housing. It provides software that is used by landlords (and, typically, landlords who are large holders of rental property) to estimate supply and demand for their listings in order to help them maximize rents. The question is whether or not RealPage is facilitating algorithmic price fixing for some of the largest residential property owners and management firms—amounting to what DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb has described as a “housing cartel.” And since Strong Towns has just released Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis, we figured there was no better time to discuss this story than now.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Order your copy of Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis today!
“DOJ escalates price-fixing probe on housing market,” by Josh Sisco, Politico (March 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Inside the Notorious Gridlock of Colorado's I-70 Apr 17, 2024

Since the 1970s, the number of cars on I-70 between Denver and its surrounding resorts have jumped more than 500%. Coloradans and frequent visitors know that, in order to reach the mountains during the gridlock of ski season, you must leave as early as 3 or 4 a.m. in the morning. Writer Gloria Liu decided to investigate this chaos by jumping directly into the traffic and interviewing the people stuck in it, and the article she penned about her adventure is up for discussion on this week’s episode of Upzoned. Can I-70 be fixed? And what do famous recreational arterials like I-70 reveal about our relationship with nature in the U.S.?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Colorado’s I-70 Has America’s Most Notorious Ski Traffic. Is There a Solution?” by Gloria Liu, Outside (March 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

“Redesigning” Cincinnati With the Connected Communities Plan Apr 03, 2024

Cincinnati is currently undergoing a significant planning reformation effort, which involves unveiling what’s being called the Connected Communities plan. It includes a number of proposed land-use-related policy changes that are intended to help Cincinnati grow, with the goal of advancing zoning code changes, as well as supporting diversification and affordability of housing and bolstering business districts. Here on Upzoned this week to talk with host Abby Newsham about the proposal is John Yung, an urban planner, Program Manager at the Haile Foundation, and co-leader of the Cincy host committee for the upcoming Congress for the New Urbanism, which (along with the Strong Towns National Gathering) will be taking place in Cincinnati in May.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Mayor Pureval wants to redesign Cincinnati. Here's what that could look like,” by Becca Costello, WVXU (January 2024).
Get your tickets for the National Gathering today!
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Our Financial System Favors Large-Scale Development…but at What Cost? Mar 20, 2024

On this week’s episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham and co-host Chuck Marohn are joined by Coby Lefkowitz, who penned the article that’s up for discussion: “Why small developers are getting squeezed out of the housing market.” It focuses on how finance shapes our cities, why debt is used to develop cities in the first place, how lenders deal with risk, and why risk mitigation is critical to understanding why the world looks the way it does. And, most notably, it dives into America's housing financial system and why it privileges large-scale institutional development at the expense of more incremental and community-based building.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Why small developers are getting squeezed out of the housing market,” by Coby Lefkowitz, Noahpinion (March 2024).
Coby Lefkowitz (Website; X/Twitter).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Traffic Deaths Now Exceed the Number of Homicides in LA. This Initiative Aims To Change That. Mar 13, 2024

This week on Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Michael Schneider, founder of Streets for All and the campaign manager for Healthy Streets Los Angeles. They discuss an article from The Los Angeles Times titled, “L.A. bus and bike lane measure will cost $3.1 billion, a new report says. Backers cry foul.” This piece was written in advance of the ballot proposal Measure HLA, which was recently approved by voters, and mandates the installation of hundreds of miles of transportation improvements in L.A. over the next decade, with a focus on bike lanes and sidewalk improvements.

(Editor’s note: This episode was recorded before the results of the ballot were released.)

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“L.A. bus and bike lane measure will cost $3.1 billion, a new report says. Backers cry foul,” by David Zahniser, The Los Angeles Times (February 2024).
“The People of Los Angeles Just Said ‘Yes’ to Safer Streets,” by Asia Mieleszko, Strong Towns (March 2024).
Streets for All (website).
Healthy Streets Los Angeles (website).
Michael Schneider (LinkedIn; X/Twitter).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

$350 Million Mixed-Use Development Presents a "Huge Opportunity" for South Bend, IN Mar 06, 2024

This week on Upzoned, host Abby Kinney is joined by Mike Keen, a retired professor and incremental developer in South Bend, Indiana, to discuss a recent article in WSBT, “Major mixed-use development could be largest in downtown South Bend history.” It highlights a $350 million project that has been proposed in downtown South Bend: a mixed-use district that would include hotels, apartments, and commercial uses, to be completed by 2028. The development, led by nearby Memorial Hospital, will take up about two city blocks and is expected to be a catalytic project for the city. So, we ask: is this project going to be a positive for South Bend and its small-scale developers like Keen?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Major mixed-use development could be largest in downtown South Bend history,” by Sean English, WSBT (February 2024).
“This ‘Accidental Developer’ Wants To Show You How To Revitalize Your Neighborhood,” by Seairra Jones, Strong Towns (April 2023).
Escaping the Housing Trap: A Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis by Charles Marohn. Available for preorder now!
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Mike Keen (LinkedIn).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Could this New Approach to Public Housing Actually Work? Feb 21, 2024

A suburb of Washington, DC is exploring a new approach to creating more affordable housing through public-private partnerships. And it’s seeing success! In this episode of Upzoned, Chuck and Abby discuss the history of public housing and government housing subsidies in the US, the good, the bad and the ugly. Then they consider whether this new model could be helpful or harmful to cities.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“What if public housing were for everyone?” by Rachel M. Cohen, Vox (February 2024).
Escaping the Housing Trap: A Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis by Charles Marohn. Available for preorder now!
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Parking Minimums Might Be on the Way Out in Dallas Feb 14, 2024

Local officials in Dallas are considering eliminating minimum parking requirements in the city. The zoning ordinance advisory committee just voted to advance the measure to the city planning commission, and if approved there, it would then go on to the city council.

Critics believe that this is a one-size-fits-all approach to parking reform and that it’s not an ideal solution to Dallas’s parking dilemma, whereas proponents say the change will cut down on unused parking spaces and accelerate the city’s economic development.

So, is this measure a good or a bad move for Dallas?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Dallas Zoning Committee Advances Parking Reform,” by Andrew Terrell, The Dallas Express (February 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Coming Back Down to Earth After a “Next-Level” Downtown Revitalization Feb 07, 2024

This week’s Upzoned episode covers a story that sounded promising at the start: “The Town That Took Downtown Renewal to the Next Level”? Sounds great! Right? Alas, residents of Morristown, Tennessee, have discovered that the Skymark (i.e., an elevated sidewalk) they built in the 1960s was not the salvation for their downtown they’d hoped it would be. Join host Abby Newsham and co-host Chuck Marohn as they take a deep dive on how this huge investment, unfortunately, didn’t pan out as a long-term strategy for economic prosperity.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Town That Took Downtown Renewal to the Next Level,” by David Zipper, CityLab (January 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Today’s Generation of Families Are “Disillusioned” by Suburbia Jan 31, 2024

Five families from Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Pittsburg move to the suburbs in search of the American dream, drawn by promises of better schools and all the other amenities promised by suburban life…but instead, they’re experiencing the decline of the suburbs, rather than the benefits that were sold to them.

On this week’s episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn discuss this story, told in “The Suburbs Have Become a Ponzi Scheme,” and based on the book, Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America's Suburbs.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Suburbs Have Become a Ponzi Scheme,” by Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic (January 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Millennials Are Fleeing Cities in Favor of the Exurbs Jan 24, 2024

Millennials are officially getting old. They’re having children, buying houses, and getting replaced by Gen Z in urban areas. As one article from Business Insider puts it, “Millennials are getting priced out of cities,” and are starting to leave the urban neighborhoods that they’ve been building their lives in, up to this point. According to the author, since the cost and types of housing available in urban areas isn’t conducive to family life, millennials are having to instead flee to the only place they can afford to live: the exurbs.

What’s the Strong Towns take on this? Join host Abby Newsham and co-host Chuck Marohn as they discuss this article on this week’s episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Millennials are getting priced out of cities,” by Eliza Relman, Business Insider (Jan. 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Ryan Johnson: Builder of the First Car-Free Neighborhood Made From Scratch in the U.S. Nov 22, 2023

Upzoned has been on a bit of a hiatus for the past couple of months, but we wanted to have at least one final episode of 2023 (and rest assured that the podcast will be returning with weekly episodes in 2024). This episode is an exciting one, as host Abby Kinney is joined by a guest whose work she’s been following for several years: Ryan Johnson, the builder and resident of the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the U.S., called Culdesac Tempe. We hope you enjoy this special end-of-the-year interview and look forward to more content coming soon!

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Transportation Meltdown: Children on the School Bus Till 10 p.m. Aug 23, 2023

Kentucky’s largest school system recently had to cancel the second and third day of classes due to what they're calling a disastrous overhaul of the bus system. On day one, some children were still on their bus at 10 p.m.

AP News reported this issue is partly the result of a bus driver shortage, which definitely plays a role in why Kentucky is having this transportation problem. But Kentucky isn’t the only place that’s struggled with getting children to and from school. There's more to the story, and it has to do with the suburban development pattern, and the closure of neighborhood schools.

In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Newsham digs into details of why, seemingly every year, many school districts have trouble with the transportation of students. She invites Dr. Michael Ralph, director of research at MultiStudio, and Daniel Herriges, Strong Towns’ editor-in-chief, to share their insights on the subject.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“New school bus routes a ‘disaster,’ Kentucky superintendent admits. Last kids got home at 10 pm,” AP News (August 2023).
Abby Newsham (Twitter).
Dr. Michael Ralph (Twitter).
Daniel Herriges (Twitter).
Learn more about the 2023 Local-Motive Tour.
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Is Affordable Housing Possible Under Current Zoning Laws? Aug 16, 2023

Durham, North Carolina, is experiencing a hot debate over changing its zoning code.

The proposed “Simplifying Codes for Affordable Development” (or SCAD) presents tactical adjustments that focus on loosening the current rules so local people can make small-scale changes to their neighborhood. The changes would eliminate parking mandates, legalize smaller homes on smaller lots, and permit mixed-use development.

In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Newsham talks to Aaron Lubeck, who’s been closely involved in developing SCAD, about the proposed changes. They discuss why SCAD is such a controversial topic, and if it’s different from other reforms.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Op-Ed: The Purpose of Zoning is to Prevent Affordable Housing" by Bob Chapman, Indy Week (March 2023).
Aaron Lubeck (Twitter).
Abby Newsham (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Arizona Pushes for Suburban and Rural Development, Despite Dwindling Water Supply Jul 26, 2023

State-level officials in Arizona are getting more serious about water scarcity issues, despite the still-booming growth pressures that exist there. Some listeners may remember from a story we covered in July 2022 that rural areas outside of Phoenix, like the Rio Verde foothills, have found it almost impossible to drill wells and are now facing challenges from having their water delivered by truck.

Now, the state has determined that there is not enough water for already-approved housing projects and will stop some developers from building if they rely too heavily on groundwater, given that it has become a finite resource. Arizona's allocation of Colorado River water is also being decreased due to drought, making alternatives quite limited. Still, the Arizona water agency has given permission to build 80,000 housing lots, and for the most part, construction is going to move forward on these lots.

On today's episode of Upzoned, Chuck and Abby discuss why this development pattern in Arizona—and most of the Southwestern United States—is, as you might have guessed, unsustainable.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Arizona Limits Construction Around Phoenix as Its Water Supply Dwindles,” by Christopher Flavelle and Jack Healy, The New York Times (June 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Atlanta’s New Idea To Address Their Housing Crisis Jul 19, 2023

The United States is in the midst of a housing crisis. More and more cities are recognizing that part of the issue is due to restrictive zoning laws, which make building affordable homes a difficult feat.

On this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Kinney talks with the principal of Krongberg Urbanists and Architects, Eric Kronberg, on Atlanta’s new approach to addressing their housing issue. They’ll introduce the “social housing model” Atlanta plans to adopt, talk about the mixed-income housing aspects of Atlanta's plan, and explain what makes up a “Capital Stack.”

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Atlanta plans to embrace ‘European-style social housing,’” by Sean Keenan, Atlanta Civic Circle (July 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Eric Kronberg (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The Invisible Reason for High Housing Prices: Restrictive Land-Use Regulations Jul 05, 2023

It is extremely difficult to build housing in Rhode Island. It’s also expensive to buy homes, with prices having increased by 34% since the summer of 2020. Why? Adam A. Millsap makes the case in Forbes that because Rhode Island zoning laws are overly restrictive, developers are unable to meet the current and past needs of housing. Millsap writes:

“Places with fewer land-use regulations and more flexible zoning have lower housing prices and slower rent growth. Land-use regulations such as density restrictions, height restrictions, minimum lot sizes, parking requirements, and complicated set-back rules prevent developers from building more housing, especially more affordable housing.”

In this episode of Upzoned, join host Abby Kinney as she talks with guest Nolan Gray, author of Arbitrary Lines, about his perspective on zoning laws and Rhode Island’s efforts to address their housing crisis.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Zoning Reforms, Not Public Housing, Will Fix Rhode Island’s Housing Problem,” by Adam A. Millsap, Forbes (May 2023).
Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It by Nolan Gray.
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Nolan Gray (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Why Can’t We Have the “Perfect” Neighborhood? Jun 28, 2023

“Who Can Afford America’s Perfect Neighborhood?” asks The Guardian. Longmont, Colorado, holds many elements of the American dream: tree-lined streets, neighbors walking to fulfill errands, children racing about, cafes, beautiful parks, gyms, and community events. To many, it sounds like a place of paradise. But housing prices have skyrocketed, and it’s not uncommon for a million-dollar home to sell in less than a week. In this Upzoned podcast, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn talk about this neighborhood and answer the question:

Why is this “perfect neighborhood” not easily copied in other places?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Who Can Afford America’s Perfect Neighborhood?” by Courtney Tenz, The Guardian (May 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Behind the Scenes at the Strong Towns National Gathering Jun 22, 2023

At the end of May, Strong Towns hosted its inaugural National Gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a two-day event packed with different speakers and sessions, where we heard from Strong Towns members about how they’re making incremental housing possible in their communities, how highways are destructive and how people are fighting expansions, how the property tax system is broken and what we can do about it, and so much more. In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney goes behind the scenes with Strong Towns staffers Norm Van Eeden Petersman and Rachel Quednau. They chat about how the National Gathering came together, a few lessons learned, and some possible changes for future gatherings.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“You don't have to leave your neighborhood to live in a better one,” Majora Carter, TED (2022).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (Twitter).
Rachel Quednau (LinkedIn).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Live From the National Gathering Jun 14, 2023

A few weeks ago, the first Strong Towns National Gathering took place in Charlotte, NC. While people buzzed back and forth between sessions, Upzoned host Abby Kinney sat at a table and invited those walking by to join her on the podcast. This week, you’ll hear Strong Towns members from all over talking about who they are, what they’ve seen in their communities, and what they’re doing.

Also, it’s Member Week at Strong Towns, and podcasts like Upzoned wouldn’t be possible without our members! Join today to support the movement and the advocates who are making our places stronger and more financially resilient.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Note: When trying to make our communities a better place, we look for the “smallest next thing” that can be done. Strong Towns is no exception: it’s how we function as an organization. We’re always taking the smallest next step and learning as we go, and sometimes, it’s not perfect. The audio recorded for this podcast is an example. We experienced a handful of technical glitches and as a result, the audio is low quality, and sometimes difficult to hear. Because of all the people who put work into this episode, we opted to still publish despite the technical issues throughout. We hope you enjoy listening to people on the ground. Next year, we’ll be better prepared to record audio on site!
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Parking Regulations Threaten to Demolish Coffee Shop May 17, 2023

In Kansas City, Kansas, parking regulations have threatened to demolish a local coffee shop for a parking lot. An out-of-state developer is trying to meet the city’s strict parking requirements for a new apartment complex across the intersection, and the coffee shop owner, T.J. Roberts, is trying to save what’s become a special community hub.

On this Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney talks with Roberts about his inspiration for building community, and his struggle to keep his coffee shop, Kinship Cafe, from getting torn down. Also on the show is Dennis Strait, a principal at architect firm Multistudio, to talk about why city builders should care about a coffee shop over convenient parking spaces.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“‘It’s heartbreaking.’ Why parking rules threaten one of KC area’s few Black coffee shops,” by Kevin Hardy, The Kansas City Star (May 2023).
Urban3 Land Use Analysis on Kansas City.
Help Save Kinship Cafe (GoFundMe).
Kinship Cafe (Instagram).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

An Abandoned Downtown Equals a Pot of Gold? May 03, 2023

Not everyone who left the office for remote work returned after the pandemic lockdown ended. Many employees stayed remote, and, in doing so, they left behind a swath of empty office buildings in downtowns across North America. Developers see these abandoned places as easy cash, that is, if you can find the right sort of abandoned office space. On this episode of Upzoned, urban developer Andrew Ganahl talks with host Abby Kinney about the challenges of this pattern of growth, but also the good that could come out of it.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The developers who see dollar signs in abandoned downtowns,” by Alex Mayyasi, The Hustle (April 2023).
Andrew Ganahl (Twitter).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

One Reason American Architecture Is Considered Boring: Stairs Apr 12, 2023

Have you ever wondered why multifamily housing has the same, copied look in most places? Part of the reason is due to the way regulations require architects to build stairs. On this Upzoned podcast, host Abby Kinney talks with special guest and architect Kevin Klinkenberg about how building codes and zoning laws can be helpful, yet at the same time limit building possibilities.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Why Does American Multifamily Architecture Look so Banal? Here’s One Reason,” by Michael Eliason, The Architect’s Newspaper (March 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Kevin Klinkenberg (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Cowboy Hotels for Housing Shortages Apr 05, 2023

Like all major cities in America, Seattle is facing a housing shortage. And 100 years ago, Seattle faced a housing shortage bigger than the one it has now. The initial response to the historic shortage was to build small, boxy, apartment buildings holding four to six apartments (called Cowboy Hotels) that blended in with the houses already established in the neighborhood. In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn talk about Cowboy Hotels and their financial possibilities.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Small Apartments From 100 Years ago Offer Townhome Alternative,” by Joshua McNichols, KUOW, (March 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Homelessness in Rural America Mar 29, 2023

Homelessness in rural areas can look different than in bigger cities: as noted in a recent article by The Daily Yonder, rural homelessness is more “hidden,” and is expressed through couch surfing, roommate arrangements, and housing insecurity versus seeing people without homes on the street.

What can we do to address the housing crisis in rural communities? Join host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn on the Upzoned podcast as they talk about this growing problem and possible solutions.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Tackling Rural America’s ‘Hidden’ Housing Crisis,” by Taylor Sisk and Jan Pytalski, The Daily Yonder (March 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

High-Income Earners Are Renting Instead of Buying Homes Mar 22, 2023

High-earning Americans are renting instead of buying homes. Some even say they plan to rent indefinitely. Why is that? In this week’s Upzoned episode, join host Abby Kinney and guest Norm Van Eeden Petersman as they talk about this trend.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Three Million U.S. Households Making Over $150,000 Are Still Renters,” by Will Parker, The Wall Street Journal (March 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (Twitter).

When a Building Is Demolished, What Should Happen to the Materials? Mar 15, 2023

“What happens when old buildings have reached the end of their life, either their useful life in terms of safety or their desirable life in terms of modern living?” aNext City article asks. The piece goes on to say that when buildings throughout the U.S. get demolished, the once useful construction materials often end up in landfills. But there’s a growing movement to try and disassemble buildings carefully, and rescue building materials to be used in other projects. In today’s Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn talk about this growing movement.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“How A Deconstruction Company And Salvage Shop Are Keeping Building Materials Out Of Landfills,” by Cinnamon Janzer, Next City (March, 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).

The 15 Minute City - A Good Life or an Infringement on Freedoms? Mar 08, 2023

The 15 Minute City: a term to describe mixed use neighborhoods, has become a political concept where critics believe the idea could result in an infringement on personal freedoms.

On this Upzoned podcast, host Abby Kinney and special guest Kevin Klinkenberg, talk about this contentious topic of the 15 Minute City and answer the question: Are the concerns people have (about 15 minute cities) warranted, or is this something that we should all be rolling our eyes at and moving on from?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The 15 Minute City - Where Urban Planning Meets Conspiracy Theories,” by Chris Standford, The New York Times (March, 2023)
“The Messy City Podcast” by Kevin Klinkenberg.
Abby Kinney (Twitter)
Kevin Klinkenberg (Twitter)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom

Whose Responsibility Is It To Ensure That Buildings Interact With the Public Realm in a Delightful Way? Mar 01, 2023

It’s important to build safe and productive streets, but how do we ensure those streets are a place people want to be and live in? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that buildings interact with the public realm in a delightful way? Design is hugely impactful in our daily lives: it can determine if a place is somewhere for people, or if it’s unlivable and unusable. And design isn’t wholly up to the “eye of the beholder.” It’s possible to quantify beauty.

Today on the Upzoned podcast, join host Abby Kinney as she welcomes a special guest: Tristan Cleveland, Strong Towns member, urban planner at Happy City, and PhD candidate with Healthy Populations Institute. In this episode, Abby and Cleveland talk about his recent Planetizen article, “The Responsibility of the Building to the Street.”

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Responsibility of the Building to the Street,” by Tristan Cleveland, Planetizen (February 2023).
Tristan Cleveland (Twitter).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

We’re Getting Worse at Construction Despite Technology Advances Feb 15, 2023

Despite global advantages and new technologies, we are getting worse at construction. At least, that’s the case that Ezra Klein makes in his New York Times article, “The Story Construction Tells About America’s Economy Is Disturbing.”

Today on Upzoned, join host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn as they talk about this idea and add on to the conversation with an explanation on the difference between “complicated” and “complex.”

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The Story Construction Tells About America’s Economy Is Disturbing,” by Ezra Klein, The New York Times (February 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Portland’s Cully Neighborhood To Use “The One Ring” for Good Feb 01, 2023

Portland’s Cully neighborhood is about to embark on a big urban renewal experiment with the intention of maintaining that area's current affordability. Yes, you heard that right.

In the past, the term “urban renewal” was mainly associated with mid-20th century schemes that displaced residents by seizing and demolishing large swaths of neighborhoods in order to modernize them with highways, roads, and other infrastructure elements.

Now, Cully hopes to use similar tools for the better. Under what the city has labeled an “urban renewal” plan, it would borrow against future tax revenues to invest in programs and purchases that are intended to stabilize residents and businesses (versus tearing them down for pavement projects).

In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn talk about the reality of a top-down plan like this and how it can be dangerous for communities to think this way, even if they only intend to do good.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“NE Portland’s Cully neighborhood fights displacement, climate change with urban renewal. But will it work?” by Gosia Wozniacka, The Orgonian (January 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The Governor of Missouri Wants to Spend $859 Million on Highway Expansion Jan 25, 2023

The state of Missouri has a $6 billion budget surplus due to an increase in tax revenue and unspent federal aid. Governor Parson wants to use $859 million of it to expand I-70, the major transport route which connects Kansas City and St. Louis. This expansion would bulldoze through key areas in downtown St. Louis, areas west of downtown, and even the suburban areas of Columbia (which sits right near the middle of the interstate). Lots of people, even those unfamiliar with the Strong Towns perspective, think this expenditure proposal is a bad idea.

Today, join host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn on the Upzoned podcast as they discuss this story and potential avenues for better spending.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Missouri Gov. Parson Wants $859M to Expand I-70. Here Are His Other Budget Priorities,” by Kacen Bayless and Jonathan Shorman, The Kansas City Star (January 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The U.S. Is Running Out of Skilled Labor. Is It Gen-Z’s Fault? Jan 18, 2023

The U.S. is crying out, saying we NEED more carpenters, plumbers, and other people in skilled trades and technical industries—but the generation about to take over the workforce, Gen Z, doesn’t seem interested. As time presses forward, we’re continuing to see more open positions, and not enough people to fill them. This could impact not only agriculture, infrastructure, housing, and transportation, but everyone’s daily lives, in general.

The “shortage of workers” discourse tends to point a finger at Gen Z’s lack of work ethics, but in this episode of Upzoned, podcast host Abby Kiney and guest Daniel Herriges talk about variables that are often left out of the conversation.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“America needs carpenters and plumbers. Gen Z doesn't seem interested,” by Mary Yang, NPR (January 2023).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

People Move to Places with Zoning Laws, Ergo Zoning Is Good? Jan 11, 2023

In a recent Planetizen article titled, “Is Exclusionary Zoning a Good Thing?” author Michael Lewyn examines a theoretical argument presented by Judge Glock in the American Affairs Journal: that because people move to places that have zoning laws, zoning must be good. In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn unpack the zoning debate between these two authors and how zoning is truly impacting cities.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Is Exclusionary Zoning a Good Thing?” by Michael Lewyn, Planetizen (January 2023).
“Two Cheers for Zoning,” by Judge Glock, American Affairs (Winter 2022).
“Small Developers and the Construction Labor Shortage—time to dig deep,” by R. John Anderson, R John the Bad (December 2021).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Thanks for a Great Year Dec 19, 2022

It's been a great year here on Upzoned; thanks for listening. We wanted to close out 2022 with one last message, and to wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Homeowners Struggling to Get Insurance in Wildfire-Prone Colorado Dec 07, 2022

An increasing risk of wildfires has made insurance carriers wary of certain areas in Colorado—according to a recent Denver Post article—raising their premiums and, in some cases, opting to not cover them, at all. In just the past few years, heavily forested areas of the state have been hit hard by wildfires. The Marshall Fire of December 2021, for instance, caused $2 billion in damages and has turned out to be the most expensive wildfire in the state's history.

Quite often, homeowners discover that they're underinsured when these things happen, meaning their insurance policies don't provide enough money to rebuild their homes once a fire occurs. In mountain communities like Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, and others, insurance companies are starting to pull out, altogether.

So, what are homeowners to do? Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn discuss the situation in today's episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Will insurance companies opt to leave Colorado?” by Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post (November 2022).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

These 3 Cities Are Eliminating Parking Minimums. Are They Going About It the Right Way? Nov 23, 2022

It's #BlackFridayParking week at Strong Towns, which means we've got a special parking-related episode of the Upzoned podcast today. Host Abby Kinney, co-host Chuck Marohn, and special guest Edward Erfurt (director of community action at Strong Towns) come together to discuss three stories from three different cities—Burlington, Vermont; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cambridge, Massachusetts—all of which are taking big steps to eliminate parking minimums. And in some cases, the cities are even looking at establishing parking maximums!

Does it make sense for cities to have a blanket policy on parking, one way or the other? How can communities have these conversations about parking, especially when there are people—residents and developers alike—who argue and push back against parking reform?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Burlington may eliminate parking minimums for builders city-wide. Here are the possible effects,” by Lilly St. Angelo,

Burlington Free Press (October 2022).
“Bill to Eliminate Minimum Parking Requirements to Go Before Council,” by Connor Daryani, Nashville Scene (November 2022).
“Cambridge eliminates minimum parking requirements,” by Kaushar Barejiya, The Massmedia (November 2022).
Learn more about #BlackFridayParking.
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Why Is It So Expensive To Build Public Transit in the U.S.? Nov 16, 2022

A recent VICE article shares the conclusions of a report published by an NYU research group. The research, led by Alon Levy, spans some 15 years and demonstrates the extent to which transit projects in the U.S. are inflated compared to other countries around the world—and what we can do about it.

For instance, the cost of constructing a subway in New York is double what it costs in Tokyo and 10 times what it costs in Paris. The research found New York to be the most expensive place to build transit in the world, and the lack of efficiency means we get less transit for more money, and we have a lot of public sector debt.

Why is this the case? Levy offers several reasons, which Abby and Chuck unpack in today's episode.

And by the way, it's Member Week at Strong Towns! We’re celebrating our members and everything that they do to make their communities stronger and more resilient. If you want to join this movement of a million local heroes, then do so by becoming a Strong Towns member today.

This Man Overcame Homelessness by Building His Own Tiny Home…on Hollywood Boulevard! Nov 09, 2022

An army veteran who was homeless in Los Angeles got tired of having his tent cleared out by the city's sanitation teams...so he decided to build his own house. By working with the community, the man, who goes by "Q," gathered the materials necessary to build a tiny home, complete with a generator and potted plants.

Q earns money fixing electric scooters and wants to start his own business, stating that he hopes to be an example for others in his situation. Given that, what can we learn from Q's housing solution, and from others who are responding to the housing crisis in unique—yet logical—ways?

Find out on today's episode of Upzoned, featuring host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn!

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Homeless Los Angeles man builds wooden house on Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk: ‘Gives me empowerment’,” by Louis Casiano, New York Post (October 2022).
Learn more about our incremental housing campaign.
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

What Does the ”Airbnbust” Mean for the Housing Market? Nov 02, 2022

There's been much speculation on the internet lately—to the point of almost becoming a meme—about whether we are witnessing the great "Airbnbust." In other words, people are saying that short-term rentals are a bubble that is popping right before our eyes.

As reported in Market Watch, many short-term rental owners are voicing concerns on forums like Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook about their bookings plummeting over the past three to four months. In some cases, hosts say they were at 80% occupancy, but now find themselves all the way down to zero.

At this point, it's not completely clear what's happening or why it's happening, but host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn unravel what we do know on today's episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Airbnb hosts say bookings ‘fell off a cliff’ amid influx of new vacation rentals and rising prices,” by Levi Sumagaysay, Market Watch (October 2022).
Learn more about our incremental housing campaign.
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

This Seattle Highway Is Facing a $29 Million Financial Crisis Oct 27, 2022

During the winter of 2019, a tunnel for State Route 99 (SR 99) opened, running beneath downtown Seattle, Washington. It was a long-anticipated project with a price tag of $3.3 billion—with an accompanying tolling program to cover $20 million in construction debt and operating costs.

The tunnel was toll-free for the first nine months after opening, so that drivers would be enticed to change their routes. However, only a couple of months after the tolling began, so did the COVID-19 pandemic. This drastically changed traffic patterns, and even now in fall 2022, traffic patterns have not picked up to 2019 levels.

Consequently, the tunnel is now facing what some call a "financial crisis," even after imposing an urgent 15% toll rate increase to make up for 2020 losses. In all, SR 99 is estimated to have a $29 million deficit right now—which podcast host Abby Kinney and Strong Towns Editor-in-Chief Daniel Herriges explore on this week's episode of Upzoned.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Fewer drivers in Seattle’s Highway 99 tunnel could create need for bailout,” by Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times (October 2022).
Learn more about our campaign to end highway expansion.
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Daniel Herriges (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

We Need More Housing—But Also More People Who Can Build More Housing Oct 19, 2022

Are there enough construction workers to build the housing we need in the U.S. and Canada? According to The Globe and Mail, the Ontario government has stated that the province will need 100,000 new construction workers and 1.5 million homes over the next decade.

However, a current shortage in skilled trades and labor means that the process of building homes now takes longer than before, and the situation has only been exacerbated since 2020, as many construction workers retired during the pandemic. As such, industry leaders are not optimistic about meeting forecasted housing needs, as there are just not enough new people to replace those who recently retired—along with those expected to retire in a looming retirement boom.

This is one of those acute problems that feels overwhelming to the point where you want to step back and say, "How the heck did we get here?" Tune in to today's episode of Upzoned to find out.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Are there enough construction workers to build the housing we need?” by John Lorinc, The Globe and Mail (October 2022).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (Twitter, LinkedIn).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Yes, Getting Rid of Parking Minimums Is Good for the Climate—But That’s Just the Tip of the Iceberg Oct 12, 2022

According to a recent article from TIME, a new law mandates that cities in California will no longer be able to impose parking minimums for housing, retail, or commercial development that sit within half a mile of major public transit stops. While this isn't a blanket elimination of parking minimums, is it at least a step in the right direction? And was it helpful or not for the law to be framed around climate concerns?

Today on Upzoned, Chuck Marohn is stepping in as host for Abby Kinney as he talks with Strong Towns Program Director Rachel Quednau about the impact of this state-wide reform, what it means for this decision to have been made at the state level rather than locally, the myriad benefits of eliminating parking minimums (beyond just being good for the climate), and more.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“Americans' Addiction to Parking Lots Is Bad for the Climate. California Wants to End It,” by Ciara Nugent, Time (September 2022).
Learn more about our campaign to end parking mandates and subsidies.
View our map of cities that have removed parking minimums, created as a joint project with the Parking Reform Network.
“The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Ending Parking Minimums and Seeing the Results,” hosted by Rachel Quednau, The Bottom-Up Revolution (June 2022).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

We Have Plenty of Land in the United States. But Can All of It Support Housing? Oct 05, 2022

A recent article from The Wall Street Journal posits that “The U.S. Is Running Short of Land for Housing.” Land values in favorable locations are booming right now, and land owners across the country are, in some cases, making extremely high returns on their long-term holdings—so long as conditions enable their land to support development.

Such opportunities are, according to the article, very limited. The U.S. is filled with a lot of open space, and one might think that means we have plenty of space for housing. But in order to support housing, this author believes that land needs to be positioned in a few different ways.

So, what are the three major requirements, according to The Wall Street Journal, that enable development potential in any given plot of land—and what’s the Strong Towns take on this?

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The U.S. Is Running Short of Land for Housing,” by Konrad Putzier, The Wall Street Journal (September 2022).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

The Paris of the Plains Can’t Afford Its Fountains Anymore Sep 28, 2022

If you’ve ever been to Kansas City or have any awareness about Kansas City, you may have heard it called the Paris of the Plains or the City of Fountains. A lot of people associate the city with its fountains, and it’s a big source of civic pride.

However, recently the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department was forced to shut down its 48 fountains, citing unmanageable operating costs. This has left residents up in arms, claiming that the out-of-operation fountains are attracting vandalism and causing issues for their neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, though, Parks and Rec has its hands tied, since the city has gone over its water budget for the year and can’t afford to keep fountains running. Today on Upzoned, host Abby Kinney and co-host Daniel Herriges analyze this story against another article, produced a few years ago by the Urban Land Institute, that discusses the issue of Kansas City’s park system, the history of its park system, the costs, and—particularly relevant to this story—the deferred maintenance issues.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“KC Parks and Rec shuts down several fountains early due to high water bill,” by JuYeon Kim, KSHB Kansas City (September 2022).
“Parks and Boulevard System, Kansas City, Missouri: Providing a More Equitable Approach to Investing in Parks and Recreation,” Urban Land Institute (December 2019).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Daniel Herriges (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

E-Bikes: The Frankenstein’s Monster of Transportation? Sep 14, 2022

How cool are e-bikes? How revolutionary will they be? During 2020 and 2021, e-bike sales surged 2.4 times over previous periods and essentially transitioned from a fringe product to an almost mainstream purchase in North America.

E-bike sales could be considered a huge win for micromobility and alternative transportation advocates, but don’t tell that to Ian Bogost, whose recent Atlantic piece paints e-bikes in a humor-laced take as an awkward, doomed-to-fail Frankenstein of the motorcycle and bicycle. In “The E-bike Is a Monstrosity,” Bogost derides e-bikes as unsafe, awkward to ride, and less cool than a motorcycle or a $5,000 road-racing bicycle.

Clearly, Bogost is examining e-bikes through a cultural lens, rather than one focused on transportation.

Today on Upzoned, host Abby Kinney and co-host Chuck Marohn discuss the e-bike’s potential to hasten a transition to more thickly settled places with slower-moving streets, allowing families to own one car and then supplementing it with other micromobiity options.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

“The E-Bike Is a Monstrosity,” Ian Bogost, The Atlantic (August 2022).
Abby Kinney (Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

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