Aerial photo of energy extraction sites in Texas

Clean Energy Entrepreneurship in Houston, Densification, Welcoming Refugees and more

by Tory Gattis — Fracking has a bad rep, but know-how born of the shale boom is now helping power clean energy entrepreneurship in Texas.
Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Houston vs. Austin, Kudos for Museum of Fine Arts Houston

by Tory Gattis — A just published review compares Houston vs. Austin, Woodlands ranked Best City to Live in America, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston receives praise from Travel + Leisure.
Houston's growing business districts

Political Guide for Moving to Texas, Houston No-Zoning Video, and More

by Tory Gattis — This week's post starts with my political guide for moving to Texas: progressives to Austin, conservatives to DFW, and pragmatic centrists and independents to Houston.
Las Colinas light-rail station in Irving, Texas

Infrastructure Bill Problems, Dallas TOD Failure, Transit Issues

I have mixed feelings about the $1T infrastructure bill - a lot of money will be going into transit — a black hole, especially Amtrak.

HCTRA Annual Report Shows Impact of COVID and Toll Diversions

by Tory Gattis, with data from Oscar Slotboom — The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) fiscal year 2021 annual financial report shows impact of COVID, but it had a strong financial position prior to COVID, and easily handled the financial setback.
Houston's downtown, looking outward toward suburbs

Houston’s Blob is About to Eat Even More of East Texas…and We Should Embrace It

by Tory Gattis — Houston’s traditional “build more” approach to growth responds to what people want rather than what urban planners think is the 'right' way.

Metro Update, and the Epic Failure of Transit-Oriented Development in Dallas

by 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.
Texas Department of Transportaion

MaX Lanes Network Moves Forward, But I45N Project Is in Turmoil

by 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.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's approach to dealing with homelessness in Houston is seeing success.

Austin vs. Houston; Houston’s Tough Love Homelessness Model

by 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.
Austin Downtown July 4th

Flexible Remote Work Beating Hybrid Models, Austin’s CA Housing Frenzy

by Tory Gattis — Californians are feeding Austin's housing frenzy, as flexible remote work is beating hybrid models for work.