Episodes
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Residents of Boca Chica, Texas, have voted to turn their community into a new official city called Starbase. This new municipality is tightly controlled by SpaceX leadership and most residents are SpaceX employees, which has raised concerns about the reemergence of company towns.
In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by our Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt to discuss the Strong Towns perspective on this story.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâElon Muskâs company town: SpaceX employees vote to create âStarbaseââ by Nick Robins-Early, The Guardian (May 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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As of the 2023-24 academic year, the University of California faces $9.1 billion in deferred maintenance, while California State University faces $8.3 billion. In todayâs episode, Chuck and Abby explore how this problem arose, how it mirrors the challenges cities are facing, and what it'll take to manage this decline.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâInside a $17 billion maintenance backlog plaguing Californiaâs universitiesâ by Victoria Mejicanos, Matthew Reagan and Mercy Sosa, CalMatters (April 2025).
Learn more about the Growth Ponzi Scheme and how to evaluate your own cityâs financial position.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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President Trump has proposed the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, organizations that back the majority of mortgages in the U.S. and have been under a government conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. In this Upzoned episode, Chuck and Abby discuss the proposal and how it would affect the housing market.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâHow Trump plans to get government out of the mortgage businessâ by Paige Sutherland and Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR On Point (March 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by Strong Towns Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt to discuss the emergence of food deserts in the United States. In the 1980s, the U.S. government stopped enforcing price discrimination laws, letting large supermarkets use their size to leverage better prices from suppliers. This led to the closure of many small, independent groceries and helped create today's food deserts.
Abby and Edward discuss the shift from grocery stores being neighborhood assets to regional destinations and how that extracts wealth from communities. Then they share bottom-up ways that everyday people can address these food shortages in their communities.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâThe Great Grocery Squeeze: How a federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desertâ by Stacy Mitchell, The Atlantic (December 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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Co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the challenges faced by Victoria, Prince Edward Island, a town in Canada that only has 139 full-time residents. In an attempt to attract new residents, the town has adopted its first five-year development plan.
Chuck and Abby talk about how very small towns like Victoria show the absurdities of the Suburban Experiment best â and feel its consequences most keenly. They explore what the future could look like for communities like this and emphasize the importance of embracing the things that make a specific town special instead of trying to copy suburban subdivisions.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâPopulation growth called 'critical' for the sustainability of Victoria, P.E.I.â by Sara Fraser, CBC News (February 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Substack).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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Residents of a neighborhood in Colorado are confronting a $434 million debt incurred by their communityâs special taxing district, which was set up by developers to finance the neighborhoodâs infrastructure. A group of neighbors are now organizing to take control of the districtâs board and try to bring transparency to the financial situation.
In todayâs episode of Upzoned, Abby is joined by Edward Erfurt, Strong Townsâ chief technical advisor. They discuss how using special taxing districts to fund developments is a common practice, how it leads to snowballing debt, and how difficult it is for residents to manage this kind of situation.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâThe largest neighborhood of this Colorado city is $434M in debt. Neighbors are now seeking board control.â by Olivia Young, CBS News (February 2025).
This Thursday, February 27, Strong Towns will release a toolkit to help city officials welcome incremental housing development. Learn more here. Become a member to join the launch livestream with experts Alli Thurmond Quinlan (Incremental Development Alliance) and Eric Kronberg (Kronberg Urbanists + Architects).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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The U.S. senior housing market is poised to shift from a surplus to a shortage in the next five years, as the oldest baby boomers turn 80 by 2030. In this Upzoned episode, Abby is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Townsâ director of Movement Building. They unpack the implications of this market shift and discuss what building more options for older adults could look like.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâAging Boomers Are About to Rekindle the Senior-Housing Marketâ by Peter Grant, The Wall Street Journal (February 2025).
Read more:
âSeniors Have Large Suburban Houses To Sell. Does Anyone Want Them?â (Strong Towns).
âThe Great Senior Short Sale or Why Policy Inertia Will Short Change Millions of America's Seniorsâ (Journal of Comparative Urban Law and Policy).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode, Abby is joined by Chicago aldermen Matt Martin and Andre Vasquez to discusses the Western Avenue corridor study, one of the most ambitious planning efforts Chicago has seen in decades. It includes widespread rezoning reform, and it also addresses affordable housing, economic vitality and transit efficiency. The aldermen share their approach to rezoning, emphasizing the importance of a community-first approach.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâLetâs fix Western Avenue and make Chicago strongerâ by Aaron Feldman, Chicago Tribune (June 2024).
There are 6 easy code reforms that city officials can use to bring more housing to their communities. We will release a toolkit to help you implement these changes in February 2025. Get a sneak peek here and join our mailing list to be notified when this resource is available.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In 2021, Massachusetts signed a law requiring communities that are served by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to legalize multifamily housing development near MBTA transit stations. Recently, a state court ruled that the state has the authority to sue cities and towns that donât comply.
In this episode of Upzoned, Abby and Chuck discuss whether thatâs a good idea, the broader trend of states intervening in city zoning practices, and how the root issue is actually poor transportation investment practices.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâCourt Ruling Paves the Way For State to Sue Towns With Exclusionary Zoning Lawsâ by Christian MilNeil, StreetsblogMASS (January 2025).
âOur Financial System Favors Large-Scale DevelopmentâŠbut at What Cost?â with Coby Lefkowitz.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In California, many major insurers have recently dropped homeowners in high risk areas from their plans, forcing them to seek alternate coverage with the state. However the state has nowhere near enough money to cover current property damage costs, a situation that will likely get worse as wildfires continue to burn.
In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the impact of natural disasters on the insurance industry, the feasibility of government-run insurance programs, and what this might mean for California in the long term.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESSupport Southern California Wildfire Relief. (Thank you to Strong Towns Artesia for providing this resource!)
âCaliforniaâs Insurance System Faces Crucial Test as Losses Mountâ by Christopher Flavelle, The New York Times (January 2025).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Kevin Klinkenberg, an urban designer, planner and executive director of a place management organization. They discuss how a middle-class life â especially homeownership â has become increasingly difficult for younger generations to attain. They also cover the factors that contribute to this difficulty and possible responses.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESTranscript available on our site.âIs a Middle Class Life Still Attainable?â by Tom Owens, Aaron Renn Substack (December 2024).
Read more from Kevin Klinkenberg on Strong Towns or his Substack The Messy City.
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn talk about satellite communities â towns that are developed a distance away from existing urbanized areas. They also discuss the psychological phenomena that incline people toward big projects that may solve an immediate issue (such as housing) but will cause larger difficulties later on (such as maintenance debt).
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâTewin's $590M infrastructure bill locks in 'forever sprawl,' councillor saysâ by Arthur White-Crummey, CBC Ottawa (June 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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Canada needs an additional 3.5 million housing units by 2030, and that means Canadian cities â as well as many others throughout North America â are facing the challenge of building more housing without wasting natural resources like mature trees. In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss this balancing act, the high value that trees bring to a community, and why sacrificing âurban forestsâ for housing doesnât have to mean sacrificing those trees.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâCan urban forests survive the housing boom?â by Hanna Hett, Canadaâs National Observer (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Andrew Ganahl, managing partner of a real estate development company that specializes in urban infill housing. They discuss a Washington Post article about townhouses, exploring the benefits of this style of development and Ganahlâs own experiences with building townhouses in Kansas City.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâThe new American Dream should be a townhouseâ by Amanda Shendruk and Heather Long, The Washington Post (October 2024).
Andrew Ganahl (AND Real Estate site).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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Post-COVID-19, thereâs been a resurgence of interest in mixed-use neighborhoods, leading some cities to allow for small corner stores even in neighborhoods that are otherwise residential only.
In this Upzoned episode, host Abby Newsham is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, the director of membership and development for Strong Towns. They discuss the role that small corner stores play in local economies, the benefits of allowing residents to continue using and creating these kinds of businesses, and how to talk to your local government about allowing this kind of use in your own community.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESBecome a member today!
âThe Corner Store Comebackâ by Linda Baker, Bloomberg (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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After the collapse of a Florida condo made national news in 2021, new safety regulations were enacted, requiring nearly 90% of Florida units to be updated. This left condo owners and buyers blindsided by a large backlog of deferred maintenance costs with no money saved to pay for them.
In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn explain that this situation is an example of the Growth Ponzi Scheme, where maintenance costs are hidden by rapid growth until they eventually come due and bury people or communities in debt. They discuss the effect deferred maintenance has on individuals and communities and explore possible paths forward.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâWhy Owning (and Buying) a Florida Condo Has âTurned Into a Nightmareââ by Julia Echikson, The New York Times (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by John Anderson, a builder and developer in Georgia, to discuss the Strong Towns take on âurban homesteading,â where cities sell derelict houses to people for $1 in exchange for a promise to renovate the property and live there for a period of time.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâCan Selling Off Homes for $1 Solve Urban Blight?â by Rowan Bridge, BBC (October 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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Editor's Note: We are deeply saddened to see the damage Hurricane Helene has done to Western North Carolina. Please see the additional notes for ways you can help.
In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss managed retreat, where the federal government buys land from people to encourage them to move away from areas at high risk for natural disaster. According to the article, to actually move the necessary amount of people, the government needs to increase its efforts by a factor of 200.
Chuck and Abby talk about the issues with this method of natural disaster management, as well as other common approaches like rebuilding disaster areas to be more fortified, and share their thoughts on alternative responses to natural disasters.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESWays to help Western North Carolina, suggested by Local Conversations in the area:
Manna Food Bank.
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue.
Cajun Navy.
Beloved Asheville.
âRetreating From the Coasts Makes Sense, But Our Current Approach Isnât Working,â by Tim Robustelli and Yuliya Panfil, Shelterforce Magazine (August 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a national deployment plan of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, a wireless communication tool that allows vehicles to transmit data on speed, location, road condition and other basic information. The DOT plans to implement this technology in 75% of the nation's intersections over the next decade or so.
In this episode of Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Strong Towns Director of Community Action Edward Erfurt. They discuss how V2X technology works, the challenges and risks of implementing it, and the alternatives that cities can use to increase safety more quickly and cheaply.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâThe Moonshot Plan to Eliminate Deaths on Americaâs Roadsâ by Maria Clara Cobo and Fola Akinnibi, Bloomberg (September 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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In this episode of Upzoned, co-hosts Abby Newsham and Chuck Marohn discuss the article âToward a New Way of Educating City Buildersâ by Seth Zeren, a founding member of Strong Towns. They discuss the many different disciplines that are responsible for shaping the built environment, the professional silos that often develop between these disciplines, and how a shift in management or the way people think about urban development as a whole could break down these barriers.
If youâd like to hear more of Zerenâs thoughts on city building, check out his appearances on The Bottom-Up Revolution.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTESâToward a New Way of Educating City Buildersâ by Seth Zeren, Build the Next Right Thing (September 2024).
Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).
Chuck Marohn (X/Twitter).
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.
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