The mayor sternly denounced the city’s housing authority for going forward with tax break deals that critics say don’t bring enough new affordable housing to the city and reduce tax revenue for local schools and utilities.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner ordered the city’s Housing Authority to stop work on tax break deals with affordable housing developments, which the mayor previously ordered a pause on earlier this year.
According to an article by R.A. Schuetz in the Houston Chronicle, “At question are deals in which housing authorities can remove apartment complexes from the tax rolls in exchange for making a portion of their units affordable.” The ability for the housing authority to make such deals, which involve what are known as public facility corporations, was created by a 2015 state law. “Since then, use of the law has increased dramatically — the 10 deals that received final approvals Tuesday represented a 13 percent increase in the number of deals Houston since they became legal.” After they came under scrutiny for potentially removing tax revenue while still building mostly market-rate units, the mayor ordered the HHA to put a pause on approving any new deals.
While the HHA says the deals have facilitated the creation of thousands of affordable units in Houston, policymakers are questioning their value, saying that the deals cost the state million in property taxes. Schuetz points out that “Voters have capped the property tax revenue the city can collect — and the city hits that cap every year, usually forcing it to reduce its property tax rate.” However, the impact would be felt directly by municipal utility districts and, “For Houston’s taxes, owners without the tax break make up the difference.”
FULL STORY: Turner halts affordable housing tax breaks, saying Houston Housing Authority went against his orders

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.

Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?
A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit
The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says
Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
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.