From Parking Lots to People Places: Kenneth Kettler's work with Livable Harrisonburg

Catherine Huckaby
Jun 26, 2024
7 min read

Updated: Jun 5

In Shenandoah Valley, a quiet revolution is brewing. Attorney Kenneth "KC" Kettler coordinates Livable Harrisonburg, where they are spearheading grassroots efforts to reimagine his city as a more walkable, affordable place to live. Their work thrust Harrisonburg, Virginia into the national spotlight as a finalist in the 2025 Strongest Town Contest, highlighting how determined local advocates can reshape their communities from the ground up.

How Small-Town Advocacy Creates Nationwide Impact in Urban Development

KC balances his day job as a personal injury attorney with his passion for community advocacy. As the coordinator for Livable Harrisonburg, he has become the face of a volunteer movement focused on creating housing people can actually afford, and transportation that does not require a car for every trip.

Kenneth "KC" Kettler

"Livable Harrisonburg is a local group that's focused on promoting the local policy toward affordable housing and sustainable transportation."

The group tackles a fundamental problem in how American cities have been historically designed:

"We built our society around cars to such an extent that we often require a lot of parking, which drives up the cost of housing. It makes our commutes worse because we cannot walk places. We ended up separating housing from the commercial space. What that often ends up meaning is that everyone has to drive everywhere, and everything is much more expensive."

Their work helped Harrisonburg reach the championship round of the 10th Annual Strongest Town Contest, run by Strong Towns, a national group that advocates financially resilient, people-centered development. The city earned recognition for overhauling outdated zoning rules, ditching parking requirements downtown, expanding bike paths, and breathing new life into areas like the "Bird District" through creative rehabilitation of existing buildings.

How Small Changes Create Walkable Communities

One of his core beliefs is that meaningful change often starts with modest improvements that build momentum. "Oftentimes it's little baby steps at a time." He describes how simple upgrades to a downtown alley, "putting just a tiny bit of investment there, putting like some recycled wood to cover up the garbage cans and plant trees," transformed an uninviting space into somewhere people will want to walk.

He shares another example:

"There's a parking lot two blocks away that’s where every day of my commute goes through what used to be a parking lot there. And now it's a park with trails."

These seemingly minor changes have fundamentally altered how residents experience their city.

For KC, these incremental improvements reflect a practical approach that favors human-scale interventions over massive projects. His advice to other community advocates is refreshingly direct:

"Just think of the smallest possible thing that you can do to affect change and do it right now."

Livable Harrisonburg Tackles Affordable Housing Crisis

The group’s most significant impact has been addressing the housing affordability crisis. He gets straight to the heart of the problem:

"We have zoning regulations that often require that the only thing you can build in a certain place is a large single-family home on a very large lot. This often prevents affordable housing from being built. I do not just mean subsidized housing. I mean housing that’s affordable to anyone."

He shares a success story that demonstrates the impact of persistent advocacy. Livable Harrisonburg helped secure approval for a major housing development that narrowly passed the city council:

"This was a 900-unit affordable housing development with a close vote at the city council. It was three to two, and we had to spend a lot of time talking with that third vote. Because of a tiny group of people's constant efforts with the city council, there's going to be 900 families with a place to lay their head at night because we did it."

This victory shows the concrete difference that dedicated locals can make. As he reflects:

"What matters is that we’re making a material difference in people's lives... things like that are always worth doing."

Why Community Engagement Matters

For many people, the term "community engagement" sounds like meaningless jargon. But KC understands its practical importance, especially when it comes to decisions about what gets built and where.

"I think what good community engagement looks like depends on the context. Often a decision point on one of the things we are talking about is a rezoning of a particular property," he explains. In these situations, engagement means making sure affected neighbors understand what is happening and can voice their concerns.

A troubling pattern he has observed is that the people most affected by housing and transportation decisions rarely show up at public meetings. His urgent plea to underrepresented groups like renters or younger homeowners, cuts through the noise:

"If there's one small thing you can do that can make a difference, it is showing up to public meetings. A planning commission or city council meeting that pops up. Even if it's a small project, your feedback can often make all the difference."

Navigating Change Resistance: Building Support for Community Development

He acknowledges that neighbors often have legitimate concerns about development projects, but he has also learned to recognize the deeper emotional response to change itself.

"People don't usually like change. They sometimes feel like the community has been a certain way for a long time and they do not want those things to change. There is always a little fear behind it, which is just a part of being human. I feel like it’s worth having a conversation with folks who disagree with you about things."

This insight helps him approach community discussions with empathy rather than dismissiveness. By acknowledging concerns about traffic, school capacity, or neighborhood character, he can then explain how walkable development often addresses these very issues—reducing traffic, for instance, by giving people alternatives to driving.

From Texas to Virginia: How Location Shapes Our Perspective on Urban Living

KC’s background growing up near Houston has profoundly influenced his perspective on urban development. He is originally from south of Houston, Texas where walkability was not a commonly used word with limited understanding.

In this car-dependent environment, "a commute was going 30 miles into Houston on a six-lane highway... and then making a chain of trips. Picking up kids and going to the grocery store could easily take an hour or two."

By contrast, today in Harrisonburg,

"If you live relatively close to downtown, you can take a 15-minute walk to work, or you can ride your bike, and there's at least one downtown grocery store."

The difference is dramatic: "It's a radical change in terms of the feeling of freedom that you can just go out and explore the world. You don't need to pay anybody to do it."

7 Practical Tips for Community Advocates

Based on his experiences, here are key strategies for those looking to make a difference in their communities:

Start small and act now
"Think of the smallest possible thing that you can do to effect change and do it right now." Do not wait for perfect solutions or large-scale initiatives.
Focus on your local sphere of influence
"If you move more into your actual locus of control and choose to impact things you can do something about, you will realize you have a lot more power to affect change than you actually think you do."
Show up to local meetings
"If there's one small thing you can do that can make a difference, it is showing up to public meeting…Even if it's a small project, it can often make a difference.”
Join a citizen’s academy
"Harrisburg has a citizens academy...a dozen weeklong classes where each week you go to different city departments and learn about what they're doing." Find one in your city to help you understand how local government works.
Listen more than you speak
"Spend a lot more time listening than speaking." Understanding community needs should always precede proposing solutions.
Connect with like-minded people
"When you start going to a couple of city council meetings, you start to find the people who participate in all kinds of things."
Bring your unique skills
"In terms of skill set, it takes all kinds...our little group is just made up of people willing to bring whatever they have or know about to the table." Everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Why Volunteering Matters: Finding Purpose Through Local Action

For KC, volunteering is not just about improving the community, it is about finding meaning in a world where problems often seem too big to tackle.

"There’s so many things, both in national or international politics or news, that if you're paying attention to it all, then your reaction to some degree has to be that somebody should do something about this."

Local engagement offers a concrete alternative to this feeling of helplessness. By focusing on tangible changes in your immediate surroundings, you can see the real improvements you are making in people's lives.

When asked about his most significant achievement, he points to the affordable housing development that will soon provide homes for 900 families. The project is his favorite example of what dedicated volunteers can accomplish, even with limited resources.

The Path Forward for Community-Centered Development

Kenneth Kettler's work in Harrisonburg shows how committed local advocates can transform their communities through persistent engagement. By tackling fundamental issues like affordable housing and car dependency, Livable Harrisonburg is helping create a more livable city for everyone.

The recognition Harrisonburg received as a finalist in the Strongest Town Contest validates these efforts and provides an example for other communities pursuing similar changes. As his experience teaches us, meaningful urban transformation does not always require deep pockets or professional credentials—sometimes it just takes determined citizens willing to show up, listen, and speak up for better alternatives.

For those inspired by his example, the message is straightforward: start small, focus locally, and remember that in community development, your voice matters more than you might think.

Resources and Organizations Mentioned

The City of Harrisonburg, Virginia , located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, is known for its vibrant downtown, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a strong sense of community. As a hub for arts, culture, and higher education, Harrisonburg offers diverse events, parks, and activities for residents and visitors alike.
Livable Harrisonburg is a local advocacy group dedicated to promoting abundant, affordable housing and sustainable transportation in Harrisonburg. The organization works to ensure that all residents are welcomed and supported through policy advocacy, community events, and education on housing and transportation issues.
Strong Towns is a national nonprofit that advocates for financially resilient, safe, and livable cities by challenging postwar suburban development patterns. The organization provides resources, events, and a platform for local advocates to promote incremental, community-driven change focused on sustainable land use and transportation.
The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) is a regional nonprofit that builds stronger, healthier communities by making walking and biking safe and accessible for everyone. With a 35-year history, SVBC organizes rides, advocates for better infrastructure, and fosters a welcoming, inclusive cycling culture throughout the Valley.