strongtowns.org
We're changing *everything* about the North American pattern of development.
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In the first round, competitors are placed into four themed groups. You'll vote for which city should be crowned the winner of each group. Then, all 16 competitors will continue to the first elimination round.
Go to strongesttown.com to learn about the competitors and cast your vote!
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Enter “The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform.” Designed to help cities take that first critical step, the goal here is simple: get more housing built.
Download it now: strongtowns.org/housingready
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The registration link will be sent to members via email. Become a member today to get your invitation! strongtowns.org/membership
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What do you think of pre-approved house plans? Let us know!
Read more in "How Cities Are Cutting Red Tape and Making Housing Development Easier" on our site! https://buff.ly/3QCKoCm
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“When you have the site planner, building official, fire marshal and utility company all at the table, looking at the same plan with the common mission to develop a house product in your community, the game changes,” Edward Erfurt, Strong Towns’ chief technical advisor, argues.
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These are important questions because we risk learning the wrong lessons on traffic safety from our time in the pandemic.
Read more in “Traffic Deaths Are Down, But Not for the Reasons We’re Being Told” up on our site! https://buff.ly/41fdMDx
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But let’s be serious: If people are drag racing on your streets, your streets are designed wrong.
Read more on strongtowns.org: https://buff.ly/431AUI6
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In some places, this problem is so extreme that it leads to drag racing and stunt driving, turning local streets into dangerous speedways. This reckless behavior is an extreme consequence of over-engineered roads that prioritize speed over safety.
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A toolkit to help local leaders make their cities housing ready launches this month. Get notified: strongtowns.org/housingready
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To see an example of how non-transparent local accounting can harm cities, check out "Talk Is Cheap: How One City Hid Its True Intentions in the Fine Print" by Michel Durand-Wood, reposted from his site "Dear Winnipeg" onto strongtowns.org: https://buff.ly/3AqFl31
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It also extends to the stewardship of money itself: The more transparent and open the city’s finances, the more accountability there is, as both officials and residents can clearly see whether public spending is helping or hurting. That way, they can adjust their spending to build true resilience.
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Thanks! It seems Bluesky automatically included the emoji in the link somehow. Here's that link (without the emoji this time): www.strongtowns.org/housingready
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Thanks! So strange that the emoji gets automatically included. Here's that link though (without the emoji, haha): www.strongtowns.org/housingready
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Get a peek at those six policies: strongtowns.org/housingready📍
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Live sessions run from March 20 through April 24, 2025, every Thursday from 12-1pm Central. Ticket price includes lifetime access to the session recording.
Get your tickets! strongtowns.org/localmotive 🚞
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We received it! Thanks for checking in; if we need more info, we'll follow up with the contact info you provided, but we'll also make a note for a confirmation email/page for future Strongest Town Contests!
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If you need a refresher about the Strong Towns approach: https://buff.ly/4ddIa61
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Is your town like this? Then it could be a contender for the title of Strongest Town. Learn more about the Strongest Town Contest and nominate your place! strongesttown.com
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4. Is inspired by bottom-up action (”chaotic but smart”) and not top-down systems (”orderly but dumb”).
5. Seeks to conduct as much of life as possible at a personal scale.
6. Is obsessive about accounting for its revenues, expenses, assets, and long term liabilities (”do the math”).
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1. Relies on small, incremental investments (little bets) instead of large, transformative projects.
2. Emphasizes resiliency of result over efficiency of execution.
3. Is designed to adapt to feedback.
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Maumee is not alone in facing its share of difficulties brought about by the suburban experiment, but city officials and residents work together to make their place more resilient and prosperous. Learn more about Maumee, then throw your hat into the ring and nominate your town at strongesttown.com!