All Topics
How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
Support The Center for Opportunity Urbanism as we promote people-oriented urbanism.
CONNECT WITH US
Join in the conversation at Facebook and Twitter.
Visit our YouTube channel to see the latest media.
OUR LOCATION
Urban Reform Institute
3900 Essex Lane, Suite 1200
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.
Would Free Transit Incentivize More Riders?
in Economics, Urban Issues/by COUTransit agencies around the country, including in Houston, are considering whether to eliminate or reduce their transit fares. Tory Gattis from the Center for Opportunity Urbanism said he’s been encouraging METRO to take a fresh look at its fares.
Three perfect days in HTX, growth forecasts, increasing our density, reducing homelessness, protesting property taxes, and more
in Economics, Housing/by Tory GattisThe Greater Houston Partnership has released its 2020 Employment Forecast. Only time will tell if their vision is 20/20… (sorry, couldn’t help myself! 😉
2019 Highlights
in Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Time for our annual roundup of the best posts of the year 2019. Looking at the list, I think it was a very good year relative to most of my others. Hard to believe we’re coming up on the 15th anniversary of this blog.
California Preening: Golden State on Path to High-Tech Feudalism
in Demographics, Economics, Education, Energy & Environment, Housing, Politics & Policy, Suburbs, Urban Issues/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — “We are the modern equivalent of the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta….” declared then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007. In truth, the Golden State is becoming a semi-feudal kingdom, with the nation’s widest gap between middle and upper incomes—72 percent, compared with the U.S. average of 57 percent—and its highest poverty rate.
Why METRO Should Eliminate Transit Fares
in Politics & Policy/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — The big item this week is my mention in this Chronicle article for getting Metro to reconsider spending $100 million on new fare-collection equipment while they’re still looking at going completely fareless
Mayors Won’t Rule the World
in Demographics, Planning, Politics & Policy, Urban Issues/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — Earlier in this decade, cities—the bigger and denser the better—appeared as the planet’s geographic stars. According to the 2013 book If Mayors Ruled the World, everyone would be better off if state rule were replaced by rule from the most evolved urban areas.
Charles Schwab Moving San Francisco HQ to Texas
in Economics/by Joseph Vranichby Joseph Vranich — The brokerage firm Charles Schwab announced today it would acquire TD Ameritrade in a $26 billion deal and will move its headquarters from San Francisco to the Dallas-Forth Worth area.
Midwest Success Stories
in Demographics, Economics, Small Cities, Urban Issues/by Aaron M. Rennby Aaron M. Renn — My latest report has just been released by the Manhattan Institute. It’s called, “Midwest Success Stories: These 10 Cities Are Blooming, Not Rusting.” It’s a look at 10 cities in nine states in the greater Midwest that are doing well economically and demographically.
Cities, Suburbs, and the New America
in Economics, Housing, Urban Issues, Video/by COUby SMU Video — SMU-Cox Folsom Institute for Real Estate, the SMU Economics Center, and the Center for Opportunity Urbanism presented a lively discussion on Cities, Suburbs, and the New America, and Minorities, Immigrants, and Millennials in America’s Favorite Geography.
World Series Houspitality, HTX #1 for entrepreneurship higher ed, cities Americans are leaving, Austin’s fantasy, and more
in Demographics/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston Region May Account for Majority of Economic Gains in Texas over the next 25 years – roughly 30% of the state’s growth, which is more than Dallas’ 24%, but less than DFW combined.