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MaX Lanes Network Moves Forward, But I45N Project Is in Turmoil
/in Blog /by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston’s MaX Lanes Network is moving forward, the I45N rebuild project is in need of support. Meanwhile, Houston continues to be an immgration magnet, with one of the best job to housing ratios in the country.
Austin vs. Houston; Houston’s Tough Love Homelessness Model
/in Blog, Housing, Urban Issues /by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — This week, I’m sharing my favorite excerpts from Evan Mintz’s newest Texas Monthly essay, and how Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s approach to homelessness is succeeding.
Flexible Remote Work Beating Hybrid Models, Austin’s CA Housing Frenzy
/in Blog, Housing, Urban Issues /by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Californians are feeding Austin’s housing frenzy, as flexible remote work is beating hybrid models for work.
Will Texas Get a 5th Large Metro?
/in Blog /by COUby Tory Gattis — Writer Scott Beyer considers whether Texas is poised to add a 5th large metro, and thinks it will be along the corridor between Austin and San Antonio.
Reason Video on Houston’s Housing Approach
/in Blog, 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 Blog, 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 Blog, 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 Blog, Event, Urban Issues /by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — First, 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. Second, demographic information post-pandemic indicates that it may be frustrated Republican (R) voters leaving Democratic states and moving to R states…
Four Drivers of Texas’ Rapid Growth
/in Blog, Housing, Planning, 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 Blog, Housing, Planning, Politics & Policy /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.