1. The Trick-or-Treat Test by Daniel Herriges | October 30, 2019

The spooky wisdom of the spookiest night of the year.

2. Here's What Happens When a Handful of Developers Control the Housing Market by Daniel Herriges | October 24, 2019

Most local housing markets in the U.S. are oligopolies: new construction is dominated overwhelmingly by only a few developers. How did we get here, and why is it this bad news for housing affordability, as well as for our cities’ financial strength and resilience?

3. Learn from Peers but Think for Yourself by Charles Marohn | October 28, 2019

Copying and pasting lighting codes from other cities seems like a good idea. Why reinvent the wheel? But doing so thoughtlessly can obscure what is unique and valuable about your own community.

4. Crowdsourced Value Per Acre Analyses, Discussions of Deferred Maintenance in Schools, and a Must-See Land Use Simulation by Jacob Moses | October 25, 2019

See the Strong Towns movement in action as readers and members crowdsource ideas, ask questions, and share neighborhood-boosting insights.

5. Is Your City Infrastructurally Obese? by Leo Thompson | October 29, 2019

Many cities think they need to grow to get strong. But adding thousands of additional acres to the city and millions of dollars in infrastructure is usually the last thing a city needs. It’s like trying to lose weight by consuming more pizza and beer.