We are a Strong Towns Local Conversation open to everyone in the Bloomington-Normal area. What happens in Normal impacts the rest of the region. We are in favor of infill development anywhere in the twin cities, especially in the urban cores. Walkable city centers and density are imperative to a Strong Town. However, the wayContinueContinue reading “A “New” Normal: Top-Down or Bottom-Up Redevelopment in Uptown?”
Tag Archives: architecture
Strong Towns Blono Podcast Episode 1
https://anchor.fm/s/10ed3cb10/podcast/rss Our first guest of the podcast, longtime local Robbie Osenga of Catalyst Construction talks with Noah about building housing in central Illinois.
Return of Downtown Local Ownership?
After the September 8th 2025 Bloomington City Council meeting, residents of the urban core can now construct the beloved shophouse typology. (I know, it took some time to push this blogpost out the door). Agenda Item number 8.B. standardized the accessory dwelling unit application process (which we will talk about in a separate post), allowsContinueContinue reading “Return of Downtown Local Ownership?”
The Importance of Proactive Historic Preservation
I had the pleasure of reading The University of Notre Dame School of Architecture Dean’s Charrette of Downtown Gary. Compared to our recently completed amateur Front N Center Design Charrette, this is the gold standard and professional quality. Notre Dame has gained a national and international reputation of being an excellent purveyor of traditional architectureContinueContinue reading “The Importance of Proactive Historic Preservation”
When the Wrecking Ball Comes…
On Monday, several proposals will be brought before the Bloomington City Council to deliberate the futures of several landmark parcels in downtown. The Front N Center building, the adjacent DUI Countermeasures building, and the former Elks building across Madison Street will be slated for demolition due to horrible mismanagement by the out of town HuffContinueContinue reading “When the Wrecking Ball Comes…”
Adaptive Reuse: How to Build More Housing Fast
By: Quinlan Tisdale, Secretary Since the pandemic left office buildings empty all across the country, adaptive reuse has become a popular method for cities to increase housing stock quickly and cheaply. Instead of building houses from scratch, adaptive reuse renovates unused or underused buildings to serve a new purpose. The housing crisis is in fullContinueContinue reading “Adaptive Reuse: How to Build More Housing Fast”
The Power of Community: Cohousing
What is Cohousing? In order to help solve our growing local housing crisis, we must be willing to try new types of housing developments. The oversized McMansions that most builders prioritize today are too expensive and out of alignment for most homebuyers. The average household size has decreased significantly in the past twenty years. However,ContinueContinue reading “The Power of Community: Cohousing”
The Importance of Historical Markers in Neighborhood Revitalization
The Dimmitt’s Grove Neighborhood Association has installed six new historical markers, with plans for ten more. Each sign details the home’s history and was funded and created by the association itself. These markers serve as symbols of community pride and have inspired improvements in the neighborhood. This grassroots effort exemplifies the type of revitalization advocated by Strong Towns.