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Houston's Focus On Planning Gets Noticed

Posted by: Chris Steins
Thanks to: Chris Steins
9 February 2004 - 5:00am

A Super Bowl visitor to Houston writes that although the city's reputation for visual blight is deserved, the city is catching on to good city building.

"Most encouraging is Houston's belated attention to the small and seemingly insignificant sidewalk-level amenities that are so important to urban vitality... Market Square, Courthouse Square and along Main Street. Here dozens of historic two- to four-story brick structures have been reclaimed as restaurants, clubs, loft apartments and condominiums, and these formed the heart of Houston's raucous Main Event street party of the last week. Houston threw a New Orleans-quality street bash for several days, and it would not have been possible had not all those historic structures been brought back to life."

Full Story: It paid to sweat the small stuff
Source: The Houston Chronicle, February 8, 2004
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The impact of community design and amenities on community engagement is substantial. Respondents with a lower overall grade for their communities were also found to be less engaged in their communities, as measured by participation in social activities, relationships with neighbors, volunteer work, and civic participation such as voting.
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