Houston
City vs. State: Mayors Want Power to Require Mask Wearing to Slow Coronavirus Spread
Coronavirus cases are surging in the Lone Star State's urban areas, so mayors of nine of its largest cities asked Greg Abbott for the power to mandate the wearing of masks or facial coverings, prohibited by executive order, to slow viral spread.
Interstate 45 Realignment Would Cut Through a Historic Black Neighborhood in Houston
A plan to realign Interstate 45 in Houston has been criticized as a highway boondoggle as well as a failure of racial and social equity, and recent protests have only amplified the latter criticisms of the project.
Dallas Eyes Big Property Tax Increase to Cover COVID-19 Losses
Dallas will need voter approval to overcome tax increase obstacles put in place by the Texas State Legislature.
Second Wave or Second Peak?
The terminology of the coronavirus pandemic isn't applied consistently, particularly when dealing with areas seeing a resurgence of infection after states have relaxed social distancing restrictions. The World Health Organization added some clarity.
Religion in the Pandemic: First Amendment vs. Public Health and Safety
Conflicts between church and state are being decided in state and federal courts as governors act to protect their constituents from the coronavirus while religious institutions and their supporters seek exceptions from social gathering restrictions.
First Climate Action Plan Released in Houston
The planning legacy of Hurricane Harvey is becoming more clear in Houston, after the city released its first-ever Houston Climate Action Plan, just months after releasing the Resilient Houston plan.
Texas Losing its Housing Affordability Advantage
Trends pre-dating Covid-19 showed housing affordability slipping away from many residents in Texas. The pandemic will likely only exacerbate the trend, according to this analysis.
Gentrification Architecture—It’s Baffling
Critics say the design of homes that come with gentrification is too often uninspired, incompatible, and downright ugly.
Eminent Domain Challenges Remain for Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project
While Texas Central's plan to build a high-speed rail link between Houston and Dallas has already dealt with years of opposition from rural communities, big fights over the use of eminent domain have yet to begin.
No Slowdown of Out-Migration of Black Residents from Chicago
The city of Chicago continues to see a decline in population, including tens of thousands of African-Americans who have left in recent years.
A First for Houston: Chief Transportation Planner
The newly created position of Chief Transportation Planner for the city of Houston is tasked with working with multiple levels of government to help shift Houston away from its car-centric model.
Refugees Learn to Survive as Pedestrians on Houston's Dangerous Streets
For one refugee family, living in Houston has meant facing a host of new challenges as they traverse the city’s roadways without a car.
'Resilient Houston' Plan Released
The 186-page "Resilient Houston" document was released to the public in the nation's fourth largest city, which is facing numerous environmental stresses.
Planning Without Zoning: The Houston Story
Houston is famous in planning circles for lacking a zoning code, but that doesn't mean planners don't have plenty of tools to determine the future of the city.
I-45 Widening Plan Nears the Finish Line in Houston
The public is getting a chance to give feedback on the city's proposed changes to a project that would realign and widen Interstate 45 near downtown Houston.
Houston More Expensive Than New York? Not So Fast
A recent study claiming that transportation costs in Houston, among other expenses, raise the cost of living almost to the same level as living in New York City. Some took exception to the study's methodology.
Gentrification in Houston Outpaces Other Texas Cities
Gentrification is transforming Houston faster than Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Houston Just as Expensive as New York City, Study Says
The extra costs of automobile dependency turn assumptions about affordability on their head, according to a recently published report by the Citizens Budget Commission.
Houston Will Not Be a Fare-Free Transit City
In case anyone was getting carried away with the idea of fare-free transit, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has some cold water to pour on the conversation.
A Major Makeover for Houston Street
Bagby Street in Houston will soon have wider sidewalks and a new bike lane.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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.
