Duany Prepares Houston For The 21st Century

"When Duany and his team returned to Miami on Friday, they left behind plans for three projects that their client, developer Frank Liu, hopes will transform the style of urban development in Houston.

Duany and other New Urbanist planners design compact, walkable places where homes are close to shops and offices and where public gathering spaces such as parks and plazas are just as important as houses.

This approach is a novelty in Houston, where most developments still reflect a suburban, automobile-focused model.

Duany, in several appearances before business and community groups, said Houston should find a way to devote at least a small fraction of its 650 square miles to projects like Liu's.

By doing so, he said, the city will be in a stronger position to compete for talented young professionals who want to live, work and play in truly urban environments.

'The world is changing radically in the 21st century, and Houston is not well positioned to be one of the winners,' Duany told the Greater Houston Partnership's quality of life advisory committee. 'This city cannot put together two walkable blocks.'