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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.
Post HTX Diversity, Housing Costs Hurt Education and more
in Demographics, Economics/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Big increases in housing costs since 2000 have likely eaten most of the wage premium return from getting a college education, reducing the incentive to invest in education.
Solving the Housing Shortage, and Houston Popular for Relocation
in Housing/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Wall Street Journal finds that the housing shortage is caused by a combination of zoning and financing rules and supply-chain constraints.
Metro’s Inner Katy BRT Plan, and Urban Exodus Trend
in Economics, Urban Issues/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Metro’s Inner Katy BRT plan looks good except for TXDoT’s duplicative plans for vehicle traffic lanes to replace lost access to existing HOV lanes. And, the urban exodus continues.
Houston’s Mini-Kaihatsu, Sinking False Alarm, and more
in Economics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston’s reported rate of sinking may be a false alarm in terms of the city actually disappearing below sea level, and a new book notes similarities between Tokyo’s mini-kaihatsu and Houston’s townhouse developments.
Silliness of Induced Demand Arguments, NZ MUD Troubles, and more
in Economics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — On the silliness of the induced demand anti-freeway-expansion argument; taxpayers *want* government to invest in infrastructure where there is demand!
Ultimate Agglomeration Diseconomy: The Standard of Living
in Demographics, Economics, Housing, Suburbs/by Wendell CoxWendell Cox — It is hard to imagine a more destructive agglomeration effect than reducing the standard of living. Yet this is what the loss of housing affordability does.
Webinar: RCLCO and Urban Reform Institute Discuss Next American Cities
in Event, Housing, Politics & Policy/by COUOn Thursday, April 28th, join the webinar as RCLCO and Urban Reform Institute discuss the Next American Cities, emerging cities that reflect a new kind of suburbanization.
Census 2021 Estimates: Increased Dispersion
in Demographics, Small Cities, Suburbs, Urban Issues/by Wendell Coxby Wendell Cox — Increased dispersion began before COVID, but accelerated in 2021 with what the Census Bureau characterized as “a shift from larger, more populous counties to medium and smaller ones.”
With Low Ridership, Should Metro’s Excess Cash Pile Go To Flood Control?
in Economics, Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — In spite of ridership being cut in half due to Covid, Metro’s financial position became stronger than ever due to a huge influx of federal grants, a total of $714 million in Covid relief in 2020 and 2021. Should this excess go to flood control?
TXDoT and Harris County Reach Deal on 45N NHHIP Rebuild
in Planning/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — TXDoT and Harris County finally came to a historic agreement today that will reshape Houston mobility for decades to come. (April Fools…)