Aaron Lubeck
@aaronlubeck.bsky.social
Builder. 🏘️🏚️🏨🏫
Restored 40+ historic buildings.
Designed many more.
Editor @southernurbanism.bsky.social
"OnHousing" Blog | Subscribe 👉 aaronlubeck.com
Restored 40+ historic buildings.
Designed many more.
Editor @southernurbanism.bsky.social
"OnHousing" Blog | Subscribe 👉 aaronlubeck.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:03 PM
For those interested in building better places, there are few better conferences than the #Seaside Prize.
I went last year, when Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson were honored for their life's work.
Schedule and registration https://loom.ly/R6vobnw
I went last year, when Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson were honored for their life's work.
Schedule and registration https://loom.ly/R6vobnw
January 29, 2026 at 1:15 PM
For those interested in building better places, there are few better conferences than the #Seaside Prize.
I went last year, when Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson were honored for their life's work.
Schedule and registration https://loom.ly/R6vobnw
I went last year, when Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson were honored for their life's work.
Schedule and registration https://loom.ly/R6vobnw
The long-awaited Durham Rail Trail will be cool.
But it could have been so much better. Why? It lacks housing.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/my-take-on-the-durham-rail-trail
#railtrail #Durham #housing #urbanism #railstotrails
But it could have been so much better. Why? It lacks housing.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/my-take-on-the-durham-rail-trail
#railtrail #Durham #housing #urbanism #railstotrails
January 28, 2026 at 1:03 PM
The long-awaited Durham Rail Trail will be cool.
But it could have been so much better. Why? It lacks housing.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/my-take-on-the-durham-rail-trail
#railtrail #Durham #housing #urbanism #railstotrails
But it could have been so much better. Why? It lacks housing.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/my-take-on-the-durham-rail-trail
#railtrail #Durham #housing #urbanism #railstotrails
The highlight of last week was getting to lecture on single-stair reform at an elite architecture school and introducing "Alicia's Law" to the younguns.
#CourtyardUrbanist #SB492
#CourtyardUrbanist #SB492
January 26, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The highlight of last week was getting to lecture on single-stair reform at an elite architecture school and introducing "Alicia's Law" to the younguns.
#CourtyardUrbanist #SB492
#CourtyardUrbanist #SB492
Starting in 2010, demand for housing significantly outstripped demand.
America has been in deficit ever since. This is traumatic for renters, students, and young families.
That trauma is the reason the #YIMBY movement started.
via @axios
America has been in deficit ever since. This is traumatic for renters, students, and young families.
That trauma is the reason the #YIMBY movement started.
via @axios
January 26, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Starting in 2010, demand for housing significantly outstripped demand.
America has been in deficit ever since. This is traumatic for renters, students, and young families.
That trauma is the reason the #YIMBY movement started.
via @axios
America has been in deficit ever since. This is traumatic for renters, students, and young families.
That trauma is the reason the #YIMBY movement started.
via @axios
Where builder-spec modernists collide with wacky infill lots, I am an indoor cat staring out the window.
January 24, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Where builder-spec modernists collide with wacky infill lots, I am an indoor cat staring out the window.
Thanks to @strongtowns.org for the republish!
January 23, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Thanks to @strongtowns.org for the republish!
I have enjoyed getting to know Skip Gibbs in #Durham. He is an artist turned community builder, and his artwork is head and shoulders above anyone else in town.
Skip's pen shows the power of a drawing to inspire action, and he's only getting better.
Follow him on Linkedin.
Skip's pen shows the power of a drawing to inspire action, and he's only getting better.
Follow him on Linkedin.
January 22, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I have enjoyed getting to know Skip Gibbs in #Durham. He is an artist turned community builder, and his artwork is head and shoulders above anyone else in town.
Skip's pen shows the power of a drawing to inspire action, and he's only getting better.
Follow him on Linkedin.
Skip's pen shows the power of a drawing to inspire action, and he's only getting better.
Follow him on Linkedin.
Baltic Avenue won’t build itself anymore. Cities have to re-legalize it…FIRST.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/why-dont-we-build-on-baltic-avenue
#housing #zoning #reform #affordability #homebuilding @npr
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/why-dont-we-build-on-baltic-avenue
#housing #zoning #reform #affordability #homebuilding @npr
January 21, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Baltic Avenue won’t build itself anymore. Cities have to re-legalize it…FIRST.
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/why-dont-we-build-on-baltic-avenue
#housing #zoning #reform #affordability #homebuilding @npr
read my latest, onHousing:
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/why-dont-we-build-on-baltic-avenue
#housing #zoning #reform #affordability #homebuilding @npr
At the end of the day, it's all about peace with your loved ones.
Happy Birthday, Dr. King.
You should be 96 — and still with us — today.
📸 by Flip Schulke
Happy Birthday, Dr. King.
You should be 96 — and still with us — today.
📸 by Flip Schulke
January 19, 2026 at 6:25 PM
At the end of the day, it's all about peace with your loved ones.
Happy Birthday, Dr. King.
You should be 96 — and still with us — today.
📸 by Flip Schulke
Happy Birthday, Dr. King.
You should be 96 — and still with us — today.
📸 by Flip Schulke
Research in #Sydney confirms what economists knew all along:
Once you install an Urban Growth Boundary you skyrocket the value of land within the boundary.
The action, which is often taken on a rationale of #sustainability or exclusion, is inherently #inflationary.
#planning #sprawl #zoning #UGB
Once you install an Urban Growth Boundary you skyrocket the value of land within the boundary.
The action, which is often taken on a rationale of #sustainability or exclusion, is inherently #inflationary.
#planning #sprawl #zoning #UGB
January 19, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Research in #Sydney confirms what economists knew all along:
Once you install an Urban Growth Boundary you skyrocket the value of land within the boundary.
The action, which is often taken on a rationale of #sustainability or exclusion, is inherently #inflationary.
#planning #sprawl #zoning #UGB
Once you install an Urban Growth Boundary you skyrocket the value of land within the boundary.
The action, which is often taken on a rationale of #sustainability or exclusion, is inherently #inflationary.
#planning #sprawl #zoning #UGB
January 17, 2026 at 1:33 PM
@Sightline Institute is the gold standard for #urbanist think tanks.
But they are exclusively committed to the Pacific Northwest.
Here's how I would build the southern-fried copycat.
#housing #reform in #thesouth
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/if-i-was-to-run-sightline-southeast
But they are exclusively committed to the Pacific Northwest.
Here's how I would build the southern-fried copycat.
#housing #reform in #thesouth
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/if-i-was-to-run-sightline-southeast
January 14, 2026 at 1:09 PM
@Sightline Institute is the gold standard for #urbanist think tanks.
But they are exclusively committed to the Pacific Northwest.
Here's how I would build the southern-fried copycat.
#housing #reform in #thesouth
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/if-i-was-to-run-sightline-southeast
But they are exclusively committed to the Pacific Northwest.
Here's how I would build the southern-fried copycat.
#housing #reform in #thesouth
https://www.aaronlubeck.com/p/if-i-was-to-run-sightline-southeast
When I give talks these days, I start by performing "The Inspiration Test":
"Name one new local development, built this century, that INSPIRES you."
Any size. Any type.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Can you name one?
"Name one new local development, built this century, that INSPIRES you."
Any size. Any type.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Can you name one?
January 12, 2026 at 1:02 PM
When I give talks these days, I start by performing "The Inspiration Test":
"Name one new local development, built this century, that INSPIRES you."
Any size. Any type.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Can you name one?
"Name one new local development, built this century, that INSPIRES you."
Any size. Any type.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Can you name one?
This graph is my plan for #Durham.
Every city should have an urban area that is deprioritized for cars and prioritized for #bikes & people.
It doesn't have to be large or even a majority of the city.
But it should exist.
And parts of #London are getting there.
via @economist #bicycleboulevard
Every city should have an urban area that is deprioritized for cars and prioritized for #bikes & people.
It doesn't have to be large or even a majority of the city.
But it should exist.
And parts of #London are getting there.
via @economist #bicycleboulevard
January 10, 2026 at 2:38 PM
This graph is my plan for #Durham.
Every city should have an urban area that is deprioritized for cars and prioritized for #bikes & people.
It doesn't have to be large or even a majority of the city.
But it should exist.
And parts of #London are getting there.
via @economist #bicycleboulevard
Every city should have an urban area that is deprioritized for cars and prioritized for #bikes & people.
It doesn't have to be large or even a majority of the city.
But it should exist.
And parts of #London are getting there.
via @economist #bicycleboulevard
Besides Michael Eliason's "Building for the People", what other books out there discuss the opportunities and challenges of #SingleStair Reform?
@singlestairnc #sb492
@singlestairnc #sb492
January 9, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Besides Michael Eliason's "Building for the People", what other books out there discuss the opportunities and challenges of #SingleStair Reform?
@singlestairnc #sb492
@singlestairnc #sb492
The advice I give beginning #tennis🎾 players is the same advice I give to those designing new urban #homes:
Do LESS.
Get rid of all the unnecessary efforts, and do LESS.
The best solution is usually the simplest one.
Do LESS.
via New Traditional #Architecture (Charlestown, MA)
Do LESS.
Get rid of all the unnecessary efforts, and do LESS.
The best solution is usually the simplest one.
Do LESS.
via New Traditional #Architecture (Charlestown, MA)
January 2, 2026 at 1:05 PM
The advice I give beginning #tennis🎾 players is the same advice I give to those designing new urban #homes:
Do LESS.
Get rid of all the unnecessary efforts, and do LESS.
The best solution is usually the simplest one.
Do LESS.
via New Traditional #Architecture (Charlestown, MA)
Do LESS.
Get rid of all the unnecessary efforts, and do LESS.
The best solution is usually the simplest one.
Do LESS.
via New Traditional #Architecture (Charlestown, MA)
As someone who designs small infill projects, I sit at the intersection of land scarcity, political theatre, and the ruthless economics of today's construction.
Let's deep dive into Elm Hill in #Durham
Link via bio
Let's deep dive into Elm Hill in #Durham
Link via bio
December 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
As someone who designs small infill projects, I sit at the intersection of land scarcity, political theatre, and the ruthless economics of today's construction.
Let's deep dive into Elm Hill in #Durham
Link via bio
Let's deep dive into Elm Hill in #Durham
Link via bio
Creative urban infill is against the grain in EVERY way.
If you are building a home:
☑️ without a garage? You are 4% of the market
☑️ less than 3 BR? You are 6% of the market
☑️ less than 2210 sf? You are less than half the market.
#housing #urbanism #affordability #smallhomes
If you are building a home:
☑️ without a garage? You are 4% of the market
☑️ less than 3 BR? You are 6% of the market
☑️ less than 2210 sf? You are less than half the market.
#housing #urbanism #affordability #smallhomes
December 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Creative urban infill is against the grain in EVERY way.
If you are building a home:
☑️ without a garage? You are 4% of the market
☑️ less than 3 BR? You are 6% of the market
☑️ less than 2210 sf? You are less than half the market.
#housing #urbanism #affordability #smallhomes
If you are building a home:
☑️ without a garage? You are 4% of the market
☑️ less than 3 BR? You are 6% of the market
☑️ less than 2210 sf? You are less than half the market.
#housing #urbanism #affordability #smallhomes
As a pedestrian, you are far more likely to be killed in a car-dependent city than a walkable city.
Whoda thunk it?
An old graph from @newurbanism @cnupublicsquare citing 2016 #Bicycling & #Walking Benchmarking Report,
Whoda thunk it?
An old graph from @newurbanism @cnupublicsquare citing 2016 #Bicycling & #Walking Benchmarking Report,
December 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
As a pedestrian, you are far more likely to be killed in a car-dependent city than a walkable city.
Whoda thunk it?
An old graph from @newurbanism @cnupublicsquare citing 2016 #Bicycling & #Walking Benchmarking Report,
Whoda thunk it?
An old graph from @newurbanism @cnupublicsquare citing 2016 #Bicycling & #Walking Benchmarking Report,
December 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Huge housing advocacy news forthcoming out of Raleigh-Durham.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
December 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Huge housing advocacy news forthcoming out of Raleigh-Durham.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
December 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM