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?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie