Topping a new list of America's coolest cities is Portland? New York? Austin? Nope, it's Houston.
I guess unusual results can be expected when Forbes is responsible for deciding what's hip. So what does Houston have going for it that would put it at the top of Forbes' list of "America's Coolest Cities To Live"?
Jobs.
Jobs are cool (especially to those recent college grads who've had to move back home without one), and Houston has them in droves, which is attracting an influx of young professionals. And these young professionals are, in turn, driving a transformation of Houston's formerly "dreary corporate cityscape," writes Morgan Brennan.
But don't just take Forbes' word for it, they've actually quantified what cool is based on seven evenly-weighted data points covering entertainment options, recreational opportunities, restaurants and bars per capita, cultural diversity, median age, migration, and unemployment.
This may be news to planning geeks, but apparently zoning isn't cool. Along with stylish housing developments arriving downtown and art galleries opening in warehouses, Houston's "multicultural, zoning-free mashup of a streetscape" is a crucial ingredient in the city's recipe for cool, according to Brennan.
Don't be too bummed New York, at least you made the top ten.
FULL STORY: Houston Tops Our List Of America's Coolest Cities
Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Housing Vouchers as a Key Piece of Houston’s Housing Strategy
The Houston Housing Authority supports 19,000 households through the housing voucher program.
Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash
Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie