The Strong Towns Podcast Housing Q&A: 16 Questions on Incremental Housing Development
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Oct 30, 2025 Housing reform gets real as city leaders grapple with pressing questions. Discover how walkability can reshape neighborhoods and the importance of small incremental developers. Chuck Marohn tackles the challenges of zoning reform and high land values while highlighting the potential of DIY projects. Explore practical solutions like accessory bedrooms and backyard cottages to boost entry-level housing. Delve into strategies to normalize duplexes and navigate the tension between large developments and small units in the housing market.
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Make Roads Become Real Neighborhood Streets
- Change stroads into streets to enable walkable neighborhoods that support more housing and commercial activity.
- Slow traffic, improve crossings, and prioritize place over through-traffic to make thickening development feasible.
High-Cost Cities Are Driven By Flows Of Capital
- High-demand coastal cities have structural finance forces that keep prices high despite adding units.
- The long-term remedy is creating equally attractive places elsewhere rather than expecting regulatory tweaks to fully solve it.
Create An Ecosystem And Localized Finance
- Build an ecosystem of incremental developers, not just streamline zoning, to produce entry-level units.
- Localize finance so cities can fill financing gaps without taking undue risk.
