Hey Cultivators,

Our team will be taking some time off to recharge with family and friends over the holidays, so this will be our final "Few Things" news digest for 2020. We hope you all have a healthy and happy holiday, and we'll see you back here in 2021!

This week’s things to know:

You Can't Understand the Rust Belt Without Understanding Its Suburbanization (StrongTowns) 

I was born and spent a good part of my childhood in the Rust Belt. It's an area that I've remained passionate about, and I think it has a lot of lessons for other parts of the country, including our home base of Texas. This article provides an overview of an amazingly insightful podcast and article series by Joseph Molnar called More People that explores the story of South Bend, Indiana. -Kevin

The Anatomy of an ADU, One of COVID-19’s Most Popular Home Additions (Apartment Therapy) 

Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have always been in my vision when talking about the housing world and even in our fiscal analysis, but my understanding of what all the need to have or should have to be a suitable dwelling has always been a little blurry. Recently, these backyard dwellings have been affordable housing solutions in pricey cities, and served as in-law suites for aging relatives. Now, ADUs, commonly referred to as “granny flats,” are popping up at a high velocity during the public health crisis. They’ve taken on a new purpose: to create flexible space for people cooped up at home. Will they reap the benefits of them after? Will they become a more permanent staple in the way people think about their property? -Ryan

To Save the Planet, Start with Sidewalks (Social Life Project) 

Health. Traffic congestion. Pedestrian fatalities. Equity. Climate change. What's one thing that can make impactful progress against all of these? Check out this article to learn how sidewalks are a key part of the solution to building resilient, safe, and healthy communities and neighborhoods. -Kevin

Here's the standard disclaimer: We always encourage our team members to freely share their thoughts and opinions, both in these newsletters and elsewhere. Given that, opinions expressed by any one member do not necessarily represent the views of the company as a whole.

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Hey, friends in local government:

Hey, friends who love cities! If you're looking for a place to discuss these topics (and more) with like-minded peers who want to help create a more resilient community, check out our Community Cultivators Network. It's free to join, and we are currently working to build new features for our 2021 relaunch, so stay tuned! We'll arm you with the content, ideas, and support to take small impactful steps to cultivate change.