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How Do You Define Success?

When it comes to Houston's light rail, Randal O'Toole says you're doing it wrong. Planners are trumpeting high ridership numbers, but O'Toole says the numbers show an overall decline in Houston's transit ridership.
2 November 2009 - 11:00am
The Antiplanner

The Planetizen News Brief - 10/29/09


4:18 minutes (3.95 MB)

Miami approves a form-based code, Houston leans towards zoning, and non-profits work with HUD to green affordable housing -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on "Smart City". Read, listen or download.

29 October 2009 - 5:00am
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Houstonians Ready for Regulation

A survey shows that 2/3rds of Houston residents are ready for stricter land use regulations. This follows a number of high-profile clashes between neighborhoods and developers who want to build in them.
22 October 2009 - 10:00am
The Houston Chronicle
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An Un-Planned Neighborhood Gets APA Award for Planning

The Houston neighborhood of Montrose was recently named one of the APA's 'Great Neighborhoods' for 2009, but as this editorial suggests, planners had nothing to do with it.
13 October 2009 - 6:00am
The Houston Chronicle

A Look at Houston and its Environmental Impact

This report from NPR looks at Houston's growth pattern, and the evolution of a city that at once provides a high quality of life but also creates a big environmental impact.
20 September 2009 - 9:00am
NPR

Houston To Require Better Walkability Around Transit Stations

City officials in Houston have unanimously approved zoning and policy changes that will encourage walkable development around the city's expanding light rail network.
21 August 2009 - 6:00am
The Houston Chronicle

Fear of Density in Houston

As Houston considers extending its urban boundaries, planners and locals struggle with the proper techniques for ensuring good development without zoning.
5 July 2009 - 9:00am
Houston Chronicle

Incentivizing Pedestrian Areas Near Houston's Light Rail

City officials in Houston are set to consider plans to incentivize broad pedestrian walkways near existing and planned light rail stations within the city.
10 June 2009 - 6:00am
The Houston Chronicle

More Nature in the City? Maybe, Via Public Art

San Francisco, Houston, and Indianapolis are featuring public art installations that mimic and highlight nature in urban areas.
16 May 2009 - 1:00pm
Next American City
Samuel Staley

Houston's Housing Lessons

Fri, 03/20/2009 - 09:18

The planning profession’s ambivalence toward Houston has always been a little frustrating. In part, the profession’s attitude is understandable. Houston hasn’t embraced planning’s conventions, so why should the profession embrace Houston?

Fair enough. But the downside is losing the opportunity to look at core issues and problems from a completely different lens. This is especially true when it comes to housing development where Houston performs remarkably better than its peers.

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The Best Housing Markets for 2009... and the Worst

Builder Magazine selects 15 picks for the best housing markets to be in in the U.S. in 2009. Houston, Texas comes out on top, and, predictably, Detroit scrapes the bottom.
2 March 2009 - 6:00am
Builder Magazine

Light Rail Talks Nearing an Agreement

Houston may be able to anticipate four new rail lines before 2012, if a deal two years in the making can be worked out through negotiations.
18 February 2009 - 11:00am
Houston Chronicle

Houston Plaza Faces Re-Redesign

Jones Plaza in Central Houston was redesigned in 2001 to accommodate large concerts and events, but locals objected to the lack of green space. So planners are going back to the drawing board.
2 February 2009 - 11:00am
The Houston Chronicle

Houston Lights go LED

The city of Houston moves to convert all the bulbs at its traffic stops to LEDs, aiming to save energy and money.
17 December 2008 - 11:00am
Houston Chronicle

Is Houston Really Unplanned?

Stephen Smith at Market Urbanism looks at the truth behind the cliché, and finds that while Houston does not have Euclidean zoning, it does have more unconventional means of controlling land use beyond the invisible hand of the free market.
12 December 2008 - 6:00am
Market Urbanism

Growth Not Catching Suburban Houston Town By Surprise

A small suburban Houston town has been planning ahead for growth that's expected to bring its population from just over 700 to nearly 40,000 in the next 15 years.
13 October 2008 - 7:00am
The Houston Chronicle

The Unseen City Icons

This piece from Discover looks at the iconic "invisible" things that define cities -- like Seattle's clouds, Houston's air conditioning, and L.A.'s Botox.
7 September 2008 - 5:00am
Discover

The Long, Long, Long Commute

The Houston Chronicle looks at the holes in Houston's transit grid, which force some riders into ridiculously long commutes.
8 August 2008 - 12:00pm
The Houston Chronicle
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Hard to Change Houston's Rep as Nation's Worst Recycler

As the worst recycler amongst the 30 largest American cities, Houston has a lot of trash on its hands. But many obstacles stand in the way of the city closing the loop.
29 July 2008 - 1:00pm
The New York Times

Sierra Club Opposes Use of HOV Lanes By Paying Customers

Houston's MTA is planning to allow drivers to pay a toll to use the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on their freeways, and the local Sierra Club chapter is speaking out against the plan.
23 July 2008 - 1:00pm
The Houston Chronicle
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