Like many other cities, Houston was looking for ways to bring more residents to Downtown. The Downtown Living Initiative has worked well—but will it leave some populations behind?
Erin Mulvaney provides perspective on the current development investments occurring on the east side of Downtown Houston, via the case study provided by the Downtown Living Initiative. The program, approved in 2013, offers "up to $15,000 in tax rebates for each unit they built in a multifamily complex," according to Mulvaney.
For more on the development occurring in the area, coverage by Emily Wilkinson from March breaks down the details. Wilkinson also notes that the program hit its cap of 5,000 units, and "city planners are no longer taking applications for the program since the number of proposed units on already approved projects might change."
According to Mulvaney, the initiative deserves some of the credit for $1 billion in development investment occurring in the area—this some 20 years after the Houston Astros' Downtown ballpark gained approval in the hopes of stimulating investment in the neighborhood. In a separate article, Mulvaney describes the disappointing returns of the ballpark.
In yet another article, Mulvaney notes criticism of the Downtown Living Initiative's lack of mechanisms to ensure the construction of affordable housing, among the city's larger challenges regarding affordability.
FULL STORY: Why didn’t the Downtown Living Initiative include affordable units?
Debating Public Incentives for Private Developments
A debate common in growing cities around the country is taking place in Atlanta in answer to the question of how much support private developers need from the public.
Spreading the Parking Reform Love Around Downtown Houston
Two downtown-adjacent neighborhoods would no longer require parking for new developments under a proposal under consideration in the city of Houston.
Houston Requires Community Benefits for Development Subsidies
Houston joins cities like Philadelphia, Detroit, and Minneapolis in demanding a greater return on public dollars.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
The European Cities That Love E-Scooters — And Those That Don’t
Where they're working, where they're banned, and where they're just as annoying the tourists that use them.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)