A proposal by the city’s mayor would create a new type of preservation district designed to protect historic structures and slow gentrification.

Critics of a proposal by Houston mayor Sylvester Turner to create ‘conservation districts’ that would protect historic structures and enable infill development in historic neighborhoods in the traditionally zoning-averse city say the mayor’s plan won’t stop gentrification and could hinder new housing construction, reports Yilun Cheng in the Houston Chronicle.
According to Anika Singh Lemar, a Yale Law School professor who studies land use, zoning, and housing issues, “regulating the density or appearance of new housing construction does not make a gentrifying area less desirable and will lead to even less affordability due to the artificial constraints on the local housing supply.”
While the ordinance has not yet been passed by the city council, some neighborhood groups are eager to take advantage of the program once it’s in place. As Cheng writes, “Freedmen’s Town, Independence Heights, Magnolia Park and Manchester could be among the first areas to participate in the program, if it is approved by council, according to Wallace Brown.”
Supporters of the program say it could help communities preserve historic architecture and maintain ‘neighborhood character’ while allowing for new development. Margaret Wallace Brown, director of Houston’s Planning and Development Department, says that conservation districts could be less complicated for property owners by having more flexible requirements for historic preservation that make it easier to preserve older housing.
The ordinance will likely be voted on by the full city council this month.
FULL STORY: Turner wants to fight Houston gentrification with conservation districts. Critics say it won't work.

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’
Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.

Vermont Latest State to Preempt Single-Family Zoning
The approval of the HOME law, S.100, will allow for duplexes in all residential neighborhoods in Vermont. Large swaths of residential zones in the state must also now allow tri- and four-plexes.

Master Plan Envisions New Neighborhood Around Philly’s 30th Street Station
A partnership led by Amtrak plans to redevelop the area around a historic train station with mixed-use buildings, cultural amenities, and open space.
Caltrans
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.