Houston

Houston Third Ward

Surprising New Research on Gentrification in Houston

Affluent areas face more demolitions than gentrifying areas in Houston and Harris County, according to the findings of a new report from the Kinder Institute of Urban research.

April 9, 2021 - Kinder Institute of Urban Research

View south along Interstate 45 (North Freeway) from the ramp between westbound Interstate 10 and southbound Interstate 45 in Houston, Harris County, Texas

TxDOT Faces Lawsuit from Harris County Over I-45 Plan

The lawsuit over the controversial I-45 project, which has been plagued by local opposition, calls for a new environmental review.

March 15, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Texas Bike Lane

Visions of the Future Houston

An ongoing exhibition in Houston imagines a city on the cusp of a new, more prosperous future.

March 11, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Downtown Houston

Tracking Resilient Houston's Progress

The Resilient Houston initiative promises to strengthen the city's infrastructure and increase its capacity to thrive and adapt under crisis.

March 5, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Texas Homes

Infrastructure Isn't an Abstract Concept. It's Very Personal

Living in Texas this week has reminded me how dependent we are on infrastructure—and how interdependent these systems are. It's time we started investing in infrastructure as if it really matters to our daily lives.

February 22, 2021 - Bill Fulton via Medium

Shepherd Drive & South Shepherd Drive Bridges over Buffalo Bayou, Houston, Texas

High Hopes for the Future of Biking in Houston

Despite Houston's reputation for sprawl, the city has made impressive efforts to build out its bike infrastructure.

February 14, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

I-45 and I-69

TxDOT Approves I-45 Widening Despite Local Opposition

Despite every manner of local opposition, the Texas Department of Transportation is pushing forward with a plan to widen Interstate 45 north of the city of Houston, demolishing and displacing thousands of homes, businesses, and community facilities.

February 7, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Bollards

Opinion: 'Performative' Pedestrian Improvements Need Deeper Scrutiny

Minor pedestrian-oriented improvements alone won't improve walkability if infrastructure still prioritizes fast-moving vehicles, according to this article.

February 1, 2021 - City Observatory

Suburban Home

The Shifting Demographics of Homeownership

Hispanics are the only racial group projected to increase their rate of homeownership over the next two decades, according to a new analysis.

January 26, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Downtown Houston

Fifth Ward Residents Oppose Houston's Interstate Expansion

The downtown freeway expansion will displace thousands of housed and unhoused residents and hundreds of small businesses.

January 13, 2021 - Houston Press

Rent Jubilee

A Housing and Eviction Crisis Still Hangs Over the U.S., Just Like the Pandemic

Checking in with the numerous risks in the housing market as the economic fallout of the pandemic as approaches it approaches its second year.

January 13, 2021 - James Brasuell

Houston, Construction

Watch: Planning Without Zoning, Explained

Fans of Houston probably won't want to watch this video that calls the Space City a "jumbled up garbage town."

January 7, 2021 - Half as Interesting

Houston's downtown skyline

From Dumps to Solar Farms, One Houston Neighborhood Is Planning its Own Future

After decades of fighting landfills and pollution in their community, residents of Sunnyside are working to build a more sustainable future.

January 5, 2021 - One Breath Partnership

Traffic Safety

Vision Zero Action Plan Launched in Houston

In Houston, 60 percent of serious automobile crashes occur on 6 percent of the city's streets. A New Vision Zero Action Plan will focus safety improvements on those streets with a high density of traffic deaths and serious injuries.

December 21, 2020 - City of Houston Mayor's Office

Houston

Houston's Growth Continues With Massive Developments Planned for 2021

With plenty of space to build and an increasingly diverse economy, Houston continues to attract up-and-coming developments offering jobs, housing, and entertainment for the city's growing population.

December 14, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Bike and Pedestrian Infrastructure

New Bike and Walking Trail Opens in Houston, With Promises of More

The new Spring Branch Trail in northwest Houston is a 'harbinger' of more bike and pedestrian infrastructure to come.

December 13, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Houston Flood

Criticism for Army Corps' Houston Flood Protection Plans

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has revised a plan to protect the Houston region from flooding by tossing out a proposed tunnel and opting instead to dig Buffalo Bayou wider and deeper.

November 23, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Resilient Home

New Collaborations for Land Banks and Community Land Trusts

Land banks and community land trusts are finding new ways to work together in light of the ongoing housing affordability crisis and the new economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 4, 2020 - Land Lines

Houston, Texas

The Social Dynamics of Houston's Urban Expansion

A new study published in the Land Use Policy journal explains how Houston's rapid expansion occurred, and why it matters.

October 6, 2020 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

Houston Bayou

Houston Officials Draft Ordinance to Protect Natural Areas

With more than 50,000 acres of parkland, Houston is one of many cities to notice an increase in use of natural areas. Natural Resources Manager Kelly Ondracek is drafting a plan to protect the natural lands from development.

September 29, 2020 - Next City

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.