Challenger Cities EP29: The Charming Housing Rebellion with Naama Blonder

Architect and urban planner Naama Blonder didn’t set out to be a suburban revolutionary. She’s raised her kids in a condo, doesn’t own a car, and rides her bike everywhere. But now she’s challenging the idea that suburbia has to be bad—and that density has to be boring.

In this episode, we dig into her award-winning Sub-Divillage project, why charm is a strategic tool (not a luxury), and how even transit-oriented developments suffer from car-first thinking.

We also cover:

• Why Toronto’s biggest TODs feel like vertical suburbs
• The myth that midrise is always the best compromise
• Why towers aren’t the problem—it’s what we do at street level
• How to push bold designs through a system built to say no
• The emotional energy tax of public consultations
• What Naama would do with a magic wand (hint: it’s about speed)

“Even people who love driving still appreciate walkability.” “We don’t have a charm crisis—but we’ve stopped even asking for charm.”

This is a conversation about better tactics, not just bigger ideas. Because if you want people to live with less, you’d better give them more to love.

https://smartdensity.com/subdivillage/