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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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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.
Why Suburbia Will Decide the Future
in Politics & Policy, Suburbs/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — As the U.S. population increasingly moves to suburbia, these shifts in population are rewriting the present and future political map.
Metro Needs to Rethink the University Line
in Planning/by Tory GattisHouston transit opponents worry that construction of the University Line will snarl traffic, invite unwelcome development and cripple local businesses.
Houston #1 Standard of Living Globally, HTX vs LA, and more
in Economics/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston has the highest purchasing power at the lowest cost-of-living in the world… aka the highest standard of living in the world.
New Book: Houston as the Bold Case Against Zoning
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisA new book by M. Nolan Gray cites the Houston city model makes a bold case against zoning.
Comparing the Inflating Costs of Houston Highways vs. Transit
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisInflation is causing huge cost increases for all types of infrastructure projects; this week we compare Houston highway vs. transit cost inflation.
The Death of Texas High-Speed Rail
in Planning, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisThe death of Texas high-speed rail looks imminent based on the recent news of the CEO’s departure, but the economics never made sense unless Japan was willing to heavily subsidize the program in order to show off their trains in America (hoping for future sales).
Demographia United States Housing Affordability – 2022 Edition Released
in Demographics, Economics, Housing, Reports/by Wendell CoxDemographia United States Housing Affordability rates housing affordability using the median multiple, a measurement of income in relation to housing prices, or 189 major markets (metropolitan areas) for the third quarter of 2021.
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.