Texas Could Have the Nation’s 3 Largest Cities by 2100. Are They Ready to Embrace Density?

Texas has some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, and sprawl has so far enabled much of that growth. Now, the realization that sprawl will increasingly strain local infrastructure and water supplies means cities will need new strategies to increase density and accommodate millions of additional residents in more sustainable ways.

In an analysis for the Urban Land Institute, Jan Steingahs outlines how Houston, Dallas, and Austin, which are projected to be the three largest cities in the country by 2100, can reorient their growth patterns to address critical urban challenges. 

As Steingahs explains, “The availability of space does not mean cities can continue business as usual when it comes to planning.” For Steingahs, cities like Dallas must focus on creating “interconnected urban centers” that form “vibrant secondary and tertiary hubs beyond the central business district.”

Adaptability is crucial for creating vibrant, sustainable urban centers. We can no longer rely on traditional construction, as in standalone office buildings, residential complexes, or typical mixed-use developments.

Steingahs suggests cities must embrace an even more diverse definition of mixed use, which will help densify urban cores and “create vibrant urban centers where buildings will work in sync with one another and ensure that new mixed-use buildings create synergies.” The old growth model will not work for the influx of new residents expected in the coming decades. “Dallas has an opportunity to create denser urban cores, redefine mixed-use developments, and foster collaboration between private developers and municipalities.”