Hey Everyone,
I have a special gift here for you...
It's a brilliant new video from my good friend Joe Minicozzi and his amazing team at Urban3
youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
Please give it a watch, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the Urban3 Channel.
Happy Holidays...
Cheers!
John
I have a special gift here for you...
It's a brilliant new video from my good friend Joe Minicozzi and his amazing team at Urban3
youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
Please give it a watch, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the Urban3 Channel.
Happy Holidays...
Cheers!
John
The Inherent Value of Density (...And The Cost of Sprawl)
YouTube video by Urban3
youtu.be
December 24, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Hey Everyone,
I have a special gift here for you...
It's a brilliant new video from my good friend Joe Minicozzi and his amazing team at Urban3
youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
Please give it a watch, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the Urban3 Channel.
Happy Holidays...
Cheers!
John
I have a special gift here for you...
It's a brilliant new video from my good friend Joe Minicozzi and his amazing team at Urban3
youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
Please give it a watch, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the Urban3 Channel.
Happy Holidays...
Cheers!
John
WATCH: If you STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown and all the urban parts of your city, watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social. And PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
I’ve sent it to a LOT of politicians.
I’ve sent it to a LOT of politicians.
Suburbia is Subsidized: Here's the Math [ST07]
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
youtube.com
March 3, 2026 at 9:13 PM
WATCH: If you STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown and all the urban parts of your city, watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social. And PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
I’ve sent it to a LOT of politicians.
I’ve sent it to a LOT of politicians.
Check out this great video by Urban3 that explores the hidden ways cities subsidize the fiscal black hole that is parking.
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
November 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Check out this great video by Urban3 that explores the hidden ways cities subsidize the fiscal black hole that is parking.
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
If you map the property value per acre in Indianapolis, you can quickly identify where downtown and density are located... (Urban3)
December 3, 2024 at 2:54 PM
If you map the property value per acre in Indianapolis, you can quickly identify where downtown and density are located... (Urban3)
Have you seen this? STILL one of the hardest truths for some to accept, but one of the most IMPORTANT — car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtowns & urban areas!
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Suburbia is Subsidized: Here's the Math [ST07]
Watch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/notjustbikes-suburbia-is-subsidized-heres-the-math-st07 Car-dependent suburbia is subsidized by productive urban places. That's why American cities are broke. But how bad is it, and who is subsidizing who? Watch the rest of my Strong Towns series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJp5q-R0lZ0_FCUbeVWK6OGLN69ehUTVa Urban3 is a consulting company that helps cities better understand the economic impact of development. They have worked with many American cities to better understand and visualize the costs of development, and uncover which properties are productive, and which are not. Some municipalities have been willing to share that information, and it has provided a fascinating glimpse into the financial problems caused by sprawling car-centric suburban development. https://www.urbanthree.com/ This video explores some of the cities analyzed by Urban3, and provides some lessons that cities should learn about how to build Strong Towns. Watch this video ad-free on Nebula here: https://nebula.app/videos/notjustbikes-suburbia-is-subsidized-heres-the-math-st07 --- Sign up to Nebula and watch ad-free and sponsor-free: https://go.nebula.tv/notjustbikes Patreon: https://patreon.com/notjustbikes Twitter: https://twitter.com/notjustbikes Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/notjustbikes One-time donations: https://notjustbikes.com/donate NJB Live (my bicycle livestream channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9v57F4xz46KaDsvWfCv8yw --- Additional Reading & References: The Real Reason Your City Has No Money Strong Towns https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2017/1/9/the-real-reason-your-city-has-no-money Poor Neighborhoods Make the Best Investments Strong Towns https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2017/1/10/poor-neighborhoods-make-the-best-investment About Urban3 Urban3 takes a different approach to land value economics, property and retail tax analysis, and community design. They empower communities with new insights into their own data. Their work makes a quantifiable case for better city planning, urban design, and smarter growth whiling backing up their stories with facts and figures. Urban3 demystify tax codes, government jargon, and municipal finance data, allowing communities to clearly understand the economic impact of development. https://www.urbanthree.com/ About Strong Towns Strong Towns is a non-profit organization and an international movement dedicated to making communities across the United States and Canada financially strong and resilient. https://www.strongtowns.org Eugene, Oregon Zoning Map https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/972e17b24da94f849c6068872108968f/page/Base-zones/ Photo Credits: Chase Bank tower, downtown Lafayette By TheLionHasSeen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111095518 20190224 19 Lafayette, Louisiana David Wilson (Flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwilson1949/48633308647 Congress & Jefferson Streets, Lafayette, Louisiana. Science Museum at right. By SnippyHolloW - https://www.flickr.com/photos/snippyhollow/34894905166/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60085556 This video contains video licensed from Geddy Images --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:05 Introduction to Lafayette 0:49 Traditional Development and Tax Revenue 1:38 An ROI for Cities 2:17 You Need a Per-Acre Analysis 3:23 Mix-use Walkable vs. Car-dependent Suburbs 4:18 The Strong Towns Analysis 4:48 The Poor Subsidize the Wealthy 5:24 It's Not Just Lafayette 6:32 Exactly Who Subsizes Who? 7:31 It's Everywhere 8:25 What Should We Do? 9:17 Conclusion 9:37 Patreon Shout-out 9:55 Outtro #urban3
go.bsky.app
May 9, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Have you seen this? STILL one of the hardest truths for some to accept, but one of the most IMPORTANT — car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtowns & urban areas!
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
“Dense walkable environments are far outperforming low density suburban sprawl… Municipalities perform far better when they invest in mixed use, walkable development patterns rather than low density development patterns.”
📊 Urban3
Watch “The Inherent Value Of Density” youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
📊 Urban3
Watch “The Inherent Value Of Density” youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
December 24, 2024 at 3:00 PM
“Dense walkable environments are far outperforming low density suburban sprawl… Municipalities perform far better when they invest in mixed use, walkable development patterns rather than low density development patterns.”
📊 Urban3
Watch “The Inherent Value Of Density” youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
📊 Urban3
Watch “The Inherent Value Of Density” youtu.be/SmQomKCfYZY
WATCH: This is STILL one of the toughest truths for some to accept, but one of the most IMPORTANT — car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtowns and urban areas!
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Suburbia is Subsidized: Here's the Math [ST07]
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
youtu.be
March 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
WATCH: This is STILL one of the toughest truths for some to accept, but one of the most IMPORTANT — car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtowns and urban areas!
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.
PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.
A neglected front in the struggle for @parkingreform.org is ending the hidden tax-based subsidies for parking provision exposed in this video from Urban3.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujZ...
Parking Is Never Free.
YouTube video by Urban3
www.youtube.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A neglected front in the struggle for @parkingreform.org is ending the hidden tax-based subsidies for parking provision exposed in this video from Urban3.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujZ...
I joined the @ottawacity.ottawa.ca property taxes to spatial data to create interactive "Revenue by Hectare" maps - a powerful way to understand how land use supports our city.
github.com/bickertonpa/...
Inspired by @strongtowns.org @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social and @urban3.bsky.social.
github.com/bickertonpa/...
Inspired by @strongtowns.org @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social and @urban3.bsky.social.
March 29, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I joined the @ottawacity.ottawa.ca property taxes to spatial data to create interactive "Revenue by Hectare" maps - a powerful way to understand how land use supports our city.
github.com/bickertonpa/...
Inspired by @strongtowns.org @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social and @urban3.bsky.social.
github.com/bickertonpa/...
Inspired by @strongtowns.org @strongtownsottawa.bsky.social and @urban3.bsky.social.
This Dirt Road Explains the 'American Dream' Scam
YouTube video by Justine Underhill
www.youtube.com
June 28, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Does this not seem familiar to you? I’ve been raising this issue since taking office. Halifax’s current peril is Ottawa’s future threat. Looks like it’s time to continue talking about Urban3.
Yeah, cool, so a short 🧵 about Halifax's finances.
Right now, after 14 or so year of taxes Halifax is at the precipice of a debt crisis which has the genuine potential to be destabilizing to our government. Most likely reforms instead of revolution but destabilizing none the less.
Why now?
/1
Right now, after 14 or so year of taxes Halifax is at the precipice of a debt crisis which has the genuine potential to be destabilizing to our government. Most likely reforms instead of revolution but destabilizing none the less.
Why now?
/1
March 4, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Does this not seem familiar to you? I’ve been raising this issue since taking office. Halifax’s current peril is Ottawa’s future threat. Looks like it’s time to continue talking about Urban3.
what I learned in the Parking Is Never Free video:
properties with lots of parking are undertaxed
properties with lots of parking are undertaxed
Parking Is Never Free.
YouTube video by Urban3
www.youtube.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
what I learned in the Parking Is Never Free video:
properties with lots of parking are undertaxed
properties with lots of parking are undertaxed
Which kind of land use is the most financially productive: roads, parking, or buildings?
Looking at this comparison, it isn't even close.
Info courtesy of our friends at Urban3.
Looking at this comparison, it isn't even close.
Info courtesy of our friends at Urban3.
January 6, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Which kind of land use is the most financially productive: roads, parking, or buildings?
Looking at this comparison, it isn't even close.
Info courtesy of our friends at Urban3.
Looking at this comparison, it isn't even close.
Info courtesy of our friends at Urban3.
Here is the long-awaited recording from last week's presentation Solving Saint Paul's Fiscal Challenges with Urban3!💵📈🏙️
Thank you for the overwhelming interest in both the event and the video!💙
youtu.be/ynmdVS3JsrI?...
Thank you for the overwhelming interest in both the event and the video!💙
youtu.be/ynmdVS3JsrI?...
Solving Saint Paul's Fiscal Challenges with Urban3
YouTube video by Sustain Saint Paul
youtu.be
March 31, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Here is the long-awaited recording from last week's presentation Solving Saint Paul's Fiscal Challenges with Urban3!💵📈🏙️
Thank you for the overwhelming interest in both the event and the video!💙
youtu.be/ynmdVS3JsrI?...
Thank you for the overwhelming interest in both the event and the video!💙
youtu.be/ynmdVS3JsrI?...
Urban3 has just uploaded a video explaining the value of density: "Joe Minicozzi, Principal of Urban3, explains why dense, urban development patterns financially outperform counterproductive suburban sprawl."
#urbanism
#urbanism
December 24, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Urban3 has just uploaded a video explaining the value of density: "Joe Minicozzi, Principal of Urban3, explains why dense, urban development patterns financially outperform counterproductive suburban sprawl."
#urbanism
#urbanism
Folks often think that sales tax can make up for unproductive land use. However, our friends at Urban3 have found that unproductive developments like big box stores and shopping centers are still no match for mixed-use buildings and traditional downtowns, even counting sales tax.
September 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Folks often think that sales tax can make up for unproductive land use. However, our friends at Urban3 have found that unproductive developments like big box stores and shopping centers are still no match for mixed-use buildings and traditional downtowns, even counting sales tax.
It makes economic sense to invest in Main Streets and downtowns! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
Thanks for sharing this example, @strongtowns.org and Urban3!
Thanks for sharing this example, @strongtowns.org and Urban3!
These restaurants and stores in downtown Austin, Minnesota produce more value per acre than the nearby Walmart.
What makes the difference?
Proximity and intensity of use.
What makes the difference?
Proximity and intensity of use.
July 23, 2025 at 2:34 AM
It makes economic sense to invest in Main Streets and downtowns! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
Thanks for sharing this example, @strongtowns.org and Urban3!
Thanks for sharing this example, @strongtowns.org and Urban3!
We should definitely meet to discuss this. I’d been in talks with Urban3 last a few years ago on this like of data study for Ottawa. @timabray.bsky.social
March 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM
We should definitely meet to discuss this. I’d been in talks with Urban3 last a few years ago on this like of data study for Ottawa. @timabray.bsky.social
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social showing its inspiration from urban3 and @strongtowns.org — this has been a good two years in the making here. Huge thanks to @pbickerton.bsky.social and @sjamieit.bsky.social for putting it all together
Some of our members have been working on a visualization of property tax income for the city, we'll be releasing more information in the future on this, but it really does do a great job of showing what changes we can make to get our city finances back on track! #ottawa
March 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
@strongtownsottawa.bsky.social showing its inspiration from urban3 and @strongtowns.org — this has been a good two years in the making here. Huge thanks to @pbickerton.bsky.social and @sjamieit.bsky.social for putting it all together
WATCH: If you STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown and all the urban parts of your city, watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes with Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social. And then PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6...
November 24, 2024 at 5:44 PM
WATCH: If you STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown and all the urban parts of your city, watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes with Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social. And then PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6...
📅 CAN'T MISS EVENT: Solving Saint Paul’s Fiscal Challenges with Urban3🏙️
Join us Thursday, March 26 (7–8:30pm) at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (The M) for a presentation on how land use shapes Saint Paul’s long-term financial health. 🧵
RSVP
actionnetwork.org/events/solvi...
Join us Thursday, March 26 (7–8:30pm) at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (The M) for a presentation on how land use shapes Saint Paul’s long-term financial health. 🧵
RSVP
actionnetwork.org/events/solvi...
Solving Saint Paul’s Fiscal Challenges with Urban3
Join us at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (The M) on Thursday evening, March 26th from 7-8:30pm for a presentation about the impacts of land use regulation on Saint Paul’s economic sustainabilit...
actionnetwork.org
March 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
📅 CAN'T MISS EVENT: Solving Saint Paul’s Fiscal Challenges with Urban3🏙️
Join us Thursday, March 26 (7–8:30pm) at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (The M) for a presentation on how land use shapes Saint Paul’s long-term financial health. 🧵
RSVP
actionnetwork.org/events/solvi...
Join us Thursday, March 26 (7–8:30pm) at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (The M) for a presentation on how land use shapes Saint Paul’s long-term financial health. 🧵
RSVP
actionnetwork.org/events/solvi...
When buildings are closer together, less land is consumed by infrastructure like roads, pipes, and power lines.
Read more in “This Small Restaurant Outperforms Walmart — Here’s Why” on our site! And many thanks to our friends at Urban3 for the info! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
Read more in “This Small Restaurant Outperforms Walmart — Here’s Why” on our site! And many thanks to our friends at Urban3 for the info! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
July 22, 2025 at 10:48 PM
When buildings are closer together, less land is consumed by infrastructure like roads, pipes, and power lines.
Read more in “This Small Restaurant Outperforms Walmart — Here’s Why” on our site! And many thanks to our friends at Urban3 for the info! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
Read more in “This Small Restaurant Outperforms Walmart — Here’s Why” on our site! And many thanks to our friends at Urban3 for the info! buff.ly/H5OhV6X
I made an urban3 style visualization of property tax per acre per parcel for my city!!!
Check it out: kb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant...
Check it out: kb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant...
November 16, 2024 at 1:56 AM
I made an urban3 style visualization of property tax per acre per parcel for my city!!!
Check it out: kb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant...
Check it out: kb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant...