Pearland Town Center

Assessed Value of Pearland Overstated $1.3 Billion

The City of Pearland finds itself in an uncertain position after it was discovered that the taxable value of the city, used to calculate revenues and tax rates, was overstated by roughly $1.3 billion because of a “worksheet error.”
Second Dwelling Units may help ease housing unaffordability in urban areas, but are prohibited by deed restrictions in many cities.

Why Houston is Better with TIRZs, and Minimal Zoning Restrictions

by Tory Gattis — Houston's TIRZs (tax-increment reinvestment zones) may provide more opportunity for middle and working class families to find affordable housing than typical urban zoning practices.
Aerial view of Houston, Texas

Countering the “Freeway Fighters”

by Tory Gattis — This piece covers the "freeway fighters", a growing anti-freeway movement in America which will have many negative ramifications for the economies of metro areas.
Houston's proposed University Line, Metro Transit

Metro Needs to Rethink the University Line

Houston transit opponents worry that construction of the University Line will snarl traffic, invite unwelcome development and cripple local businesses.
Aerial view of suburbs

New Book: Houston as the Bold Case Against Zoning

A new book by M. Nolan Gray cites the Houston city model makes a bold case against zoning.
SH 146 construction, Houston

Comparing the Inflating Costs of Houston Highways vs. Transit

Inflation is causing huge cost increases for all types of infrastructure projects; this week we compare Houston highway vs. transit cost inflation.
Shinkansen "bullet" train, high-speed rail

The Death of Texas High-Speed Rail

The 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).
Houston's mini kaihatsu, sinking a false alarm

Houston’s Mini-Kaihatsu, Sinking False Alarm, and more

by 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.
Texas Highway Interchange Stack

Silliness of Induced Demand Arguments, NZ MUD Troubles, and more

by Tory Gattis — On the silliness of the induced demand anti-freeway-expansion argument; taxpayers *want* government to invest in infrastructure where there is demand!
Las Colinas light-rail station in Irving, Texas

With Low Ridership, Should Metro’s Excess Cash Pile Go To Flood Control?

by 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?