#strongtowns — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #strongtowns, aggregated by home.social.
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You can’t solve a housing shortage with a system designed to keep housing scarce.
From 2006 through 2025, Canada’s dwelling stock grew by about 4.29 million units.
To keep up with household formation, restore a healthy vacancy buffer and account for households that couldn’t form because housing wasn’t attainable, we needed about 4.96 million.
That’s a 671,000-home shortfall in just 20 years.
And we were already roughly 459,000 homes behind when that period began. Total gap today: 1,130,128 homes.
About 475,000 of that is the basic demographic and vacancy shortage. Another 655,000 represents suppressed households: people who would have formed their own household if a suitable home had actually been available at a price they could manage.
The whole system is built to protect scarcity.
Zoning limits what can be built. Financing makes small, incremental projects unnecessarily difficult. Tax policy rewards rising property values. And with roughly two-thirds of Canadian households owning their homes, politicians know that falling prices are a much harder sell than vague promises to “build more.”
So we get longer mortgages, bigger savings accounts, buyer incentives and subsidized loans. More money to chase too few homes.
The Strong Towns point is that no amount of wrangling around the edges will fix a system whose basic incentives all point the wrong way.
We need to legalize small apartments, multiplexes and backyard homes in ordinary neighbourhoods (a big step towards this in BC recently, yay!). Make financing work for small builders. Tax land more and buildings less. Build public, co-op and non-market housing at a serious scale.
But first Canada has to pick a lane: is housing shelter that ordinary people should be able to afford? Or is it an investment that homeowners can expect to beat inflation, year after year?
It cannot reliably be both.
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You can’t solve a housing shortage with a system designed to keep housing scarce.
From 2006 through 2025, Canada’s dwelling stock grew by about 4.29 million units.
To keep up with household formation, restore a healthy vacancy buffer and account for households that couldn’t form because housing wasn’t attainable, we needed about 4.96 million.
That’s a 671,000-home shortfall in just 20 years.
And we were already roughly 459,000 homes behind when that period began. Total gap today: 1,130,128 homes.
About 475,000 of that is the basic demographic and vacancy shortage. Another 655,000 represents suppressed households: people who would have formed their own household if a suitable home had actually been available at a price they could manage.
The whole system is built to protect scarcity.
Zoning limits what can be built. Financing makes small, incremental projects unnecessarily difficult. Tax policy rewards rising property values. And with roughly two-thirds of Canadian households owning their homes, politicians know that falling prices are a much harder sell than vague promises to “build more.”
So we get longer mortgages, bigger savings accounts, buyer incentives and subsidized loans. More money to chase too few homes.
The Strong Towns point is that no amount of wrangling around the edges will fix a system whose basic incentives all point the wrong way.
We need to legalize small apartments, multiplexes and backyard homes in ordinary neighbourhoods (a big step towards this in BC recently, yay!). Make financing work for small builders. Tax land more and buildings less. Build public, co-op and non-market housing at a serious scale.
But first Canada has to pick a lane: is housing shelter that ordinary people should be able to afford? Or is it an investment that homeowners can expect to beat inflation, year after year?
It cannot reliably be both.
-
You can’t solve a housing shortage with a system designed to keep housing scarce.
From 2006 through 2025, Canada’s dwelling stock grew by about 4.29 million units.
To keep up with household formation, restore a healthy vacancy buffer and account for households that couldn’t form because housing wasn’t attainable, we needed about 4.96 million.
That’s a 671,000-home shortfall in just 20 years.
And we were already roughly 459,000 homes behind when that period began. Total gap today: 1,130,128 homes.
About 475,000 of that is the basic demographic and vacancy shortage. Another 655,000 represents suppressed households: people who would have formed their own household if a suitable home had actually been available at a price they could manage.
The whole system is built to protect scarcity.
Zoning limits what can be built. Financing makes small, incremental projects unnecessarily difficult. Tax policy rewards rising property values. And with roughly two-thirds of Canadian households owning their homes, politicians know that falling prices are a much harder sell than vague promises to “build more.”
So we get longer mortgages, bigger savings accounts, buyer incentives and subsidized loans. More money to chase too few homes.
The Strong Towns point is that no amount of wrangling around the edges will fix a system whose basic incentives all point the wrong way.
We need to legalize small apartments, multiplexes and backyard homes in ordinary neighbourhoods (a big step towards this in BC recently, yay!). Make financing work for small builders. Tax land more and buildings less. Build public, co-op and non-market housing at a serious scale.
But first Canada has to pick a lane: is housing shelter that ordinary people should be able to afford? Or is it an investment that homeowners can expect to beat inflation, year after year?
It cannot reliably be both.
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It's a shame Strong Towns has such cruddy options for reading about this.
News Article (has a "turn off your ad blocker or subscribe" wall): https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/local/apartments-proposed-for-city-hall-parking-lot
IG Short (supports fascism): https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZqO8cXzjAR/
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It's a shame Strong Towns has such cruddy options for reading about this.
News Article (has a "turn off your ad blocker or subscribe" wall): https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/local/apartments-proposed-for-city-hall-parking-lot
IG Short (supports fascism): https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZqO8cXzjAR/
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Beyond Economics: A New Lens on Climate Resilience
Every so often a new report comes out that reminds us all the climate crisis is a health crisis.
#ClimateChange #Environment #OurWonderfulGreenFuture #OWGF #Regeneration #StrongTowns #Urbanism
https://owgf.org/2026/06/10/beyond-economics-a-new-lens-on-climate-resilience/ -
Beyond Economics: A New Lens on Climate Resilience
Every so often a new report comes out that reminds us all the climate crisis is a health crisis.
#ClimateChange #Environment #OurWonderfulGreenFuture #OWGF #Regeneration #StrongTowns #Urbanism
https://owgf.org/2026/06/10/beyond-economics-a-new-lens-on-climate-resilience/ -
I'd happily take a introductory car maintenance course from a non-carcentric mechanic. I.e a mechanic who is down with the #strongTowns, #safeStreets, #banCars agenda
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I'd happily take a introductory car maintenance course from a non-carcentric mechanic. I.e a mechanic who is down with the #strongTowns, #safeStreets, #banCars agenda
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I'd happily take a introductory car maintenance course from a non-carcentric mechanic. I.e a mechanic who is down with the #strongTowns, #safeStreets, #banCars agenda
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I'd happily take a introductory car maintenance course from a non-carcentric mechanic. I.e a mechanic who is down with the #strongTowns, #safeStreets, #banCars agenda
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I'd happily take a introductory car maintenance course from a non-carcentric mechanic. I.e a mechanic who is down with the #strongTowns, #safeStreets, #banCars agenda
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Strong Towns Newcomer Orientation
Orpheum/Homewise Offices, Wednesday, April 22 at 06:00 PM MDT
Strong Towns ABQ on Instagram: "Curious about Strong Towns ABQ? New here? Just looking for a way to get involved in building a stronger Albuquerque? ✨ Join us for our Newcomer Orientation ✨ This is a low-pressure, welcoming space to learn what Strong Towns ABQ is all about; our history, goals, and how we show up for housing, transportation, and fiscally responsible growth in our city. 🗣️ Ask questions 🤝 Meet others 🧭 Find your role! Whether that’s joining a campaign, helping with outreach, or just learning more 📅 Wednesday, April 22nd ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM 📍 Homewise Center Conference Room 500 2nd St SW, Albuquerque"
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Strong Towns Newcomer Orientation
Orpheum/Homewise Offices, Wednesday, April 22 at 06:00 PM MDT
Strong Towns ABQ on Instagram: "Curious about Strong Towns ABQ? New here? Just looking for a way to get involved in building a stronger Albuquerque? ✨ Join us for our Newcomer Orientation ✨ This is a low-pressure, welcoming space to learn what Strong Towns ABQ is all about; our history, goals, and how we show up for housing, transportation, and fiscally responsible growth in our city. 🗣️ Ask questions 🤝 Meet others 🧭 Find your role! Whether that’s joining a campaign, helping with outreach, or just learning more 📅 Wednesday, April 22nd ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM 📍 Homewise Center Conference Room 500 2nd St SW, Albuquerque"
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RE: https://cosocial.ca/@showuptoronto/116426034360977115
I didn't know there's a Strong Towns Toronto group! Very cool.
Advocating for safe streets, incremental development, and an alternative to Ontario's suburban experiment.
https://strongtownstoronto.ca/
#Toronto #StrongTowns #StrongTownsToronto #Urbanism #WalkableCities #Housing #Transit
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RE: https://cosocial.ca/@showuptoronto/116426034360977115
I didn't know there's a Strong Towns Toronto group! Very cool.
Advocating for safe streets, incremental development, and an alternative to Ontario's suburban experiment.
https://strongtownstoronto.ca/
#Toronto #StrongTowns #StrongTownsToronto #Urbanism #WalkableCities #Housing #Transit
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Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque
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Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque
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Just read "You'll Pay for This"
All I wanted was for my kids to be able to walk and bike to school. Now I'm reviewing my village's balance sheet and making notes.
All part of the @notjustbikes to #strongtowns pipeline.
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Just read "You'll Pay for This"
All I wanted was for my kids to be able to walk and bike to school. Now I'm reviewing my village's balance sheet and making notes.
All part of the @notjustbikes to #strongtowns pipeline.
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🌄 Outer Districts Meeting is back! Join us as we continue building stronger suburban ABQ — safer streets, real community, and local impact. We’re also looking for a new group coordinator as Michael joins the Strong Towns ABQ Board 🎉 Ready to jump in? Come be part of it. #StrongTowns
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🌄 Outer Districts Meeting is back! Join us as we continue building stronger suburban ABQ — safer streets, real community, and local impact. We’re also looking for a new group coordinator as Michael joins the Strong Towns ABQ Board 🎉 Ready to jump in? Come be part of it. #StrongTowns
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Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.
Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW
When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm
#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU
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Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.
Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW
When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm
#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU
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Despite my absolute lack of understanding about municipal finances, I did the Strong Towns Finance Decoder Worksheet for DeKalb County, GA.
Here are the results and a link to my Google sheet.
https://orangegnome.com/posts/3819/strong-towns-finance-decoder-for-dekalb-county-ga
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Despite my absolute lack of understanding about municipal finances, I did the Strong Towns Finance Decoder Worksheet for DeKalb County, GA.
Here are the results and a link to my Google sheet.
https://orangegnome.com/posts/3819/strong-towns-finance-decoder-for-dekalb-county-ga
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5/5
Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.
Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
5/5
Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.
Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
5/5
Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.
Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
5/5
Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.
Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
5/5
Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.
Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
4/
If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.
Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
4/
If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.
Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
4/
If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.
Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
4/
If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.
Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
4/
If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.
Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish -
3/
My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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3/
My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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3/
My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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3/
My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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3/
My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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2/
What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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2/
What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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2/
What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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2/
What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
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2/
What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?
#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish
