Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 1d

Want to learn from Richardson? Join him and Neighborhood Evolution founder Mike Keen for a virtual workshop on October 16 at noon CT. buff.ly/DunjjPP

1

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 1d

Richardson is changing that, though. His small development company, Inner City Development, is filling in those empty lots with three small, single-family homes. It’s just one example of his mission to build practical, thoughtful, and community-focused housing.

1 5

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 1d

Empty lots plagued this block along Blaine Avenue in South Bend, IN for over a decade. According to resident & small-scale developer Jordan Richardson, these empty lots increased crime in the area. The loss in property tax also meant the city had less funding to provide services.

Two images of the same street, stacked on top of each other. The top image, labelled “Before,” shows a street with several empty lots separating houses. The sidewalk is cracked and almost hidden by grass. In the bottom image, labelled “After,” those empty lots have been filled with small houses under construction. A new sidewalk has been installed as well.

2 1 17

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 2d

Strong Towns Members already get access to this season’s Local-Motive sessions. Become a member today! buff.ly/vEVBu6c

Membership

We use your postal code to send you the occasional email letting you know about Strong Towns events in your region or city.

buff.ly

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 2d

Learn more about these crucial conversations in an upcoming Local-Motive session, “How to Change the Culture so More Housing Happens in Your City” with Mike Keen and Jordan Richardson!

Graphic giving information about the Local-Motive session titled “How to Change the Culture so More Housing Happens in Your City.”

1

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 2d

They were simple, recurring gatherings where neighbors could compare notes, share contractors, and ask the “dumb” questions out loud.

That shift from isolation to connection unlocked a wave of new energy in the city.

Screenshot of the article “Unleashing the Swarm in South Bend: Conversations that Build Developers.” Read more on strongtowns.org

1

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 2d

South Bend, Indiana, recognized this gap and chose a different investment: not just in buildings, but in people and conversations.

The city partnered with local leaders and groups to host regular meetups, workshops, and peer networks. These weren’t flashy conferences or high-priced seminars.

1

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 2d

The challenge, when it comes to incremental development projects, isn’t vision or willpower.

It’s isolation.

Unless local builders find a way into the network, their projects stay stuck on paper.

Photo of a woman talking and a man on a laptop. Text reads “Incremental development happens when someone’s know-how…”

Photo of two people at a table; photo is a continuation of the previous image. Text reads “…becomes collective wisdom.”

1 6

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 3d

To learn more, get access to “Who Will Build The Housing-Ready City?” today! buff.ly/0n9jsgR

1 3

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 3d

Enter: Incremental developers, like the Local Investor. The Local Investor can provide crucial funding for community-driven projects so that housing can fit the needs of the neighborhood.

A graphic featuring header text that says "Who Will Build The Housing-Ready City? The Local Investor." Check boxes check off three items for being a local investor.

1 1 3

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 3d

Even when the rules are fixed, most of the people who might act on the changes still don’t.

So who will build the Housing-Ready City?

1 1

Strong Towns @strongtowns.org · 3d

Cities across North America are working hard to reform their zoning codes, streamline permitting, and remove the barriers that make small-scale housing development difficult.

But legal reform is only the beginning.

1 4 18

Reposted by Strong Towns