Software & Hardware Pt. 3: Proof of Concept
Ideas are only as valuable as their ability to come to life.
This is the third piece in a series breaking down the elements of the Software & Hardware Framework.
If you missed the first two articles, catch up here:
The first two parts of this framework focused on story and ideas—the narrative that invites people in, and the spotlighting that helps them know where to look.
Both are essential, but eventually the conversation has to move from theory to reality. At some point, the movement has to put its ideas on the ground.
This next piece is about proof. Not potential, not vibes, not aspirations, but real-world evidence. Tangible wins. Projects you can walk through or point to and say, “That’s it. That’s what we mean.”
Because ideas by themselves don’t cut it. Especially not in a moment where everything feels gridlocked and most people have lost faith in the possibility of change.
Urbanism has to demonstrate that it works. That it’s more than a philosophy or aesthetic preference. That it’s a practical, effective way to solve problems and improve lives.
And that means more than pointing to charming cities or well-lit renderings. It means highlighting projects that delivered. Ones that changed what was possible in a place and shifted public perception along the way.
Think about:
Street Plans and their pop-up plazas and parklets, which turn lifeless corners into lively public spaces with little more than cones, paint, and good design
Culdesac in Tempe or Camp North End in Charlotte, where developers like Ryan Johnson (Culdesac) and Damon Hemmerdinger (ATCO Properties) have created entire neighborhoods centered around walkability, mixed use, and community from the very beginning
Nashville’s decision to close Broadway during the Stanley Cup run, giving the city’s most iconic street back to pedestrians, even just for a night, and watching it come alive in a new way
Austin’s zoning reforms, which are already showing that when you make space for housing, housing actually gets built
Congestion pricing in New York, where initial skepticism gave way to public support once people experienced the benefits for themselves
These aren’t ideas on a whiteboard. They’re examples of what happens when the theory gets tested and holds up in the real world.
And once that happens, we need to talk about it. Loudly.
That doesn’t just mean developers promoting their work or cities issuing press releases. It means the broader urbanism movement taking on the responsibility of telling these stories in clear, compelling, public ways.
Look at the role the Abundance and YIMBY movements have played over the past few weeks. Whether or not you count yourself squarely in either camp, it’s undeniable that they built momentum by staying visible. They didn’t wait for perfect press coverage or for someone else to amplify their wins. They told their own story, daily and sometimes hourly, through posts, charts, memes, essays, and receipts.
And it made a difference.
The rollback of CEQA in California didn’t come out of nowhere. It was the culmination of months, and really years, of tireless advocacy combined with a clear narrative and relentless storytelling. When Governor Newsom name-dropped Ezra Klein during the CEQA press conference, it wasn’t a coincidence. It was a signal that the message had landed.
“Never stop posting” might sound flippant, but there’s wisdom in it. Visibility creates momentum. Momentum creates change.
And this isn’t just about being online. These stories need to make it into the rooms where decisions get made. They need to reach people who don’t spend their days reading policy briefs or debating on X. If we want fewer barriers and more buy-in, then the folks who are on the fence (or just out of the loop) need to see what this movement is capable of.
That’s the assignment right now. Not just building more things, but making sure people actually hear about them. We need wins that are visible. Policies that stick. Projects that inspire. And a movement that isn’t afraid to say, “This worked,” and then repeat it until people start saying it back.
Urbanism isn’t just an idea. It’s a playbook. And in a moment when most people are desperate for something that works, we shouldn’t whisper about the fact that we’ve got one.
We should show it in action, and when we do, we shouldn’t shut up about it.