New leadership at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, along with new land use covenants, is paving the way for unprecedented development in the highly trafficked area.
"Parking lots and grassy patches are interspersed with non-descript office buildings and medical towers along Old Spanish Trail, one of Houston's main arteries into the gleaming Texas Medical Center," according to an article by Erin Mulvaney, to describe the context for a story about change coming to the area.
Land-use covenants allowed the Medical Center to flourish into the world's largest health care complex, but they also discouraged private enterprises from catering to the 100,000 people who work there and the more than 8 million guests, patients and family members who use it each year.
That's the old way of life in the area, but change is coming, according to Mulvaney:
Signs offering real estate for sale suggest change may be coming. Construction cranes herald such projects as a high-rise apartment building and a luxury hotel along with several major medical expansions. Brokers are actively marketing large parcels of land for a revitalization that is considered long overdue. They envision top-notch restaurants, residential complexes and new places to shop.
The article maps out the potential development investments and describes the hopes for how the investment might impact the local and regional economy.
FULL STORY: Private development set to capitalize on Med Center strength
Coronavirus Litigation: Can Employers Require Employee Vaccinations?
The plaintiffs in one of the nation's first court cases over employer-required COVID vaccinations are among the heroes of the pandemic—nurses fighting to remain unvaccinated. Houston Methodist Hospital suspended unvaccinated employees on June 6.
Watch: Debunking Myths About Houston's Lack of Zoning
A video published last week by City Beautiful reveals the myths and misconceptions of Houston's land use regulation system.
Walkability Plan, Including Parking Reform, Adopted in Houston
The city of Houston is embarking on an ambitious plan to reshape how new development in the city prioritizes walkability, and deprioritizes the automobile.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.
Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.
Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service