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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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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.
The Future of Office Space Real Estate Market
in Demographics, Economics/by Marshall Toplanskyby Marshall Toplansky — Recently, I interviewed 12 CEO’s in California about what aspects of business they expected to change after the coronavirus epidemic passsed. They first cited a coming upheaval in the office space real estate market.
NBA Playoffs to be Held in Houston During April Lockdown
in Urban Issues/by COUMoving quickly to take advantage of another month of national lockdown for the COVID-19 virus, the NBA announced today an unprecedented plan to restart their season with nearly continuous playoff games on TV throughout April.
The Coming Age of Dispersion
in Demographics, Urban Issues/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — As of this writing, the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic remain uncertain. One possible consequence is the end of the megacity era. In its place, we may now witness a new, and necessary, dispersion of population…
Stop Bagby Closure, Oil Import Tariffs, MaX Lanes, Covid-19 vs Density vs Heat
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisWant to stop closure of the Bagby and Brazos entrance/exit to/from the 59 Spur? There’s now a opposition website to the closure where you can sign the petition.
Coronavirus and the Future of Living and Working in America
in Demographics, Economics, Urban Issues/by Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplanskyby Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky — By late spring, the most severe impacts from coronavirus may fade, but its impact on the rise of dispersed living and working arrangements — were already emerging even before the pandemic emerged.
The Best Posts from the First 15 Years and 1.5 Million Pageviews
in Planning/by Tory GattisThis week marks the first 15 years of Houston Strategies with our 1,280th post. We’re also up to more than 1.5 million pageviews, not counting views at Houston Chronicle and elsewhere.
Studying the Wrong Cities Will Lead to Repeating Their Mistakes
in Demographics, Planning, Urban Issues/by Ross Elliottby Ross Elliott — The junket factor must be the only logical criteria by which various industry “study tours” overseas are planned. How else to explain how entirely inappropriate the choices are? The list of cities identified for “study” by Australian development and planning industry bodies reads like the pages of a glossy weekend travel magazine
Solving the anti-vaxer problem, Houston’s dynamic culture, TX #1 food state but needs VC, city govt vision vs. competence, and CA ineptness
in Demographics, Urban Issues/by Tory GattisGattis suggests Houston could auction off up to 5% exemptions from vaccinations to save those exemptions for those who cannot be vaccinated. On a more celebratory note…Texas just ranked number 1 food state; could it be the BBQ?
The Two Middle Classes
in Economics, Politics & Policy/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — Politicians across the Western world like to speak fondly of the “middle class” as if it is one large constituency with common interests and aspirations. But, as Karl Marx observed, the middle class has always been divided by sources of wealth and worldview. Today, it is split into two distinct, and often opposing, middle classes.
Make America’s Housing Affordable Again
in Economics, Housing, Politics & Policy/by Randal O’Tooleby Randal O’Toole — Fifty years ago, housing was affordable everywhere in the country. The 1970 census found that the statewide ratio of median home prices to median family incomes was greater than 3.0 only in Hawaii (where it was 3.04). Price-to-income ratios were under 2.5 in every other state, and under 2.2 in California, New York, and other states that today are considered unaffordable.