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A new way forward for sustainable quality of life in cities of all sizes.
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Build American Prosperity is a book of forward-thinking ideas that breaks with modern wisdom to present a new vision of urban development in the United States. Presenting the foundational ideas of the Strong Towns movement he co-founded, Charles Marohn explains why cities of all sizes continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, and reveals the new paradigm that can solve this longstanding problem.
Inside, you’ll learn why inducing growth and development has been the conventional response to urban financial struggles—and why it just doesn’t work. New development and high-risk investing don’t generate enough wealth to support itself, and cities continue to struggle. Read this book to find out how cities large and small can focus on bottom-up investments to minimize risk and maximize their ability to strengthen the community financially and improve citizens’ quality of life.
Develop in-depth knowledge of the underlying logic behind the “traditional” search for never-ending urban growth. Learn practical solutions for ameliorating financial struggles through low-risk investment and a grassroots focus. Gain insights and tools that can stop the vicious cycle of budget shortfalls and unexpected downturns. Become a part of the Strong Towns revolution by shifting the focus away from top-down growth toward rebuilding American prosperity.
Strong Towns acknowledges that there is a problem with the American approach to growth and shows community leaders a new way forward. The Strong Towns response is a revolution in how we assemble the places we live.
ABOUT THE AUTHORCHARLES L. MAROHN, JR. is the president and co-founder of Strong Towns, a nationally recognized non-profit media organization working to shape the conversation on growth, development, and the future of cities. He has two decades of experience as a land use planner and certified Professional Engineer (PE). Charles was recently named #10 on Planetizen's list of the Top 100 Most Influential Urbanists.
TABLE OF CONTENTSForeword Michele C. Martinez ix
1. Human Habitat 1
2. Incremental Growth 15
3. An Infinite Game 37
4. The Infrastructure Cult 63
5. Growth or Stability 83
6. Rational Responses 107
7. Productive Places 125
8. Making Strong Investments 147
9. Place-Oriented Government 171
10. An Intentional Life 199
Afterword LeVette Fuller 219
Acknowledgments 223
About Strong Towns 225
Get Involved in the Strong Towns Movement 227
About the Author 229
Index 231
