Houston is preparing for a new wave of population growth by preparing a comprehensive plan. The question is what kind of city Houston wants to be.
"At the end of July, Houston, with a population of over 2 million spread haphazardly across some 630 square miles, started work on its very first comprehensive city plan," reports Karrie Jacobs. "The concept, according to the city’s website, is to prepare Houston for its next million residents, scheduled to arrive within 20 years or so."
"Scheduled to be completed sometime next year, the general plan aims to craft a coherent vision and knit together myriad scattershot efforts undertaken by individual agencies, commercial developers, neighborhoods, and other odd entities."
Jacobs goes on to share observations about a recent trip to Houston, complete with tours of the city and visits with its top planners.
FULL STORY: Planning the Boom
Promoting Infill Development for a Denser Houston
An advocacy group is calling for ‘sustainable, vertical’ mixed-use urbanism in the famously sprawling city.
Houston Creating 'Equity Indicators' Report
To better plan and track its progress toward equity, the city of Houston is creating a new system of equity indicators.
Vancouver Set To Finalize Broadway Rezoning Plan
A plan to increase density along the city's 'Second Downtown' promises to bring badly needed housing to the corridor as the Broadway subway line nears completion.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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