KunstlerCast - Conversations: Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century KunstlerCast 434 — Charles Marohn on Strong Towns and the Battle to Reform the Fiasco of Suburban Sprawl
Nov 28, 2025
Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns and expert in town planning, dives into the pitfalls of suburban sprawl. He reveals how suburban development resembles a Ponzi scheme, leading cities to financial instability. The conversation touches on the fragility of infrastructure and the cultural resistance to critiquing suburban policies. Marohn advocates for localism, tactical urbanism, and realistic salvage plans for abandoned spaces. He also warns about the risks of car dependency and proposes innovative neighborhood solutions to foster resilience.
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Strong Towns Started As A Diagnostic Movement
- Charles Marohn explains Strong Towns began as a blog diagnosing why cities were going broke and grew into a movement with global members and local groups.
- The organization focuses on housing, safe streets, transparent accounting and practical campaigns to rebuild resilient towns.
A Bathroom Encouragement At CNU
- Charles Marohn recounts meeting James Howard Kunstler in a nearly empty conference bathroom, where Kunstler encouraged him to keep going.
- That brief interaction became a lasting affirmation early in Marohn's career with New Urbanist circles.
Suburbia Operates Like A Fiscal Ponzi Scheme
- Marohn frames suburbia as a long-running Ponzi-style experiment that generates short-term cash but fails fiscally as infrastructure ages.
- He argues many cities are functionally insolvent because maintenance costs outpace tax revenue and borrowing only delays the collapse.
