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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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Urban Reform Institute
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Houston, Texas 77027
Urban Reform Institute is a 501c3 Non-Profit organization
that exists to promote approaches that enable cities to
drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens.
Reason Video on Houston’s Housing Approach
in Housing/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — The lead item this week is a very cool video from Reason, “Density or Sprawl? How To Solve the Urban Housing Crisis” — that discusses how Houston’s housing approach gets it right.
‘Be Someone’ City Opportunity Urbanism Event and more
in Housing, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Join us Wednesday evening June 16th: Building a ‘Be Someone’ City: Houston and the Rise of Opportunity Urbanism. We will discuss how to develop a market-centered, ‘people-oriented’ approach to urban policy, planning, and development.
Astrodome as World’s Largest Climate-Controlled Festival Park, Smart Traffic Lights and more
in Planning, Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Could the Astrodome be repurposed as the world’s largest climate-controlled park with a focus on weekend festivals? Having an activated park full of activities and festivals on weekends that is always protected from heat and rain would be a very popular spot for Houstonians.
Houston Land Use Event, 2nd in Tech Growth, and Republican Voters Moving to Texas
in Event, Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — I’ll be covering some of Houston’s land use and zoning history as well as what other cities can learn from Houston in an online event this Tuesday. Plus, what demographic trends are emerging post-pandemic?
Four Drivers of Texas’ Rapid Growth
in Politics & Policy, Suburbs/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Four drivers of Texas’ rapid growth: a light touch on zoning, high standard of living, and family friendly housing prices in good school districts make for opportunity cities.
Texas and Houston Growth Secret, Texas Miracle is More than Oil
in Economics, Housing, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Going beyond all the usual reasons given for Texas’ high growth, here’s the technical overlooked one that I think is a big key: Texas does not allow unincorporated counties to regulate land use (i.e. create zoning), which creates pretty much a totally free market in development just outside cities.
My Land Use without Zoning Event, TX #1 for Small Biz
in Politics & Policy, Suburbs, Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — I will be speaking at “Land Use without Zoning: Putting Ideas into Practice”, hosted by the Mercatus Center. Understanding how to navigate and remove land-use regulation barriers allows for a dynamic housing market and successful community development.
Transit Tips from Harvard and Japan, Houston Life Science
in Politics & Policy/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Transit tips from Harvard and Japan could benefit Houston. Meanwhile, Houston has just been named a Life Science emerging market.
What Houston Could Lose Because of Harris County’s Anti-NHHIP (IH-45) Lawsuit
in Politics & Policy/by COUby Tory Gattis — Houston could lose because of Harris County’s Anti-NHHIP (IH-45) lawsuit; the highway project provides extensive, transformative improvements.
Are We Entering the Distributed Age? Plus Perspectives on Houston Infrastructure
in Demographics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — As we enter a distributed age of remote work, Houston’s extensive infrastructure and affordable housing position the city for growth.