After years of national criticism about Houston's livability, the city is trying to remake itself -- fast.
"This city wants to look good on Feb. 1, when the Super Bowl brings TV cameras and an estimated 100,000 visitors to town... Rising from the steamy South Texas plains, the sprawling city of four million these days is best known for traffic jams, mosquitoes and the Enron debacle. In a 2001 profile, the Economist magazine bluntly called Houston ugly. Ten years ago, during the 1994 National Basketball Association finals, the New York Post said, in a headline: 'This place is a hellhole.' ...Stung by such criticism, the nation's fourth-largest city in recent years has begun investing in its appearance." [Editor's note: This article is available to non-subscribers through the link below for a period of 7 days.]
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Houston Knows We Have a Problem -- They're Working on It

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards
“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.

Building Age-Friendly Homes
Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.

Nightlife and the 15-Minute City
Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.
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.
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