The recent on-field success of the Houston Astros is matched by a wave of building in the neighborhood around their home ballpark. All of that means baseball fans might have a harder time finding a place to park this season.
"Fans heading [to Minute Maid Park] for Monday's home opener may be in for a rude shock: Those favorite parking spots of years past could very well have a shiny new building on them, or at least a big hole in the ground," according to a post by Mike Tolson.
If that all seems a bit strange for those familiar with Houston and its ballpark, that's because it is: "It wasn't so long ago that the retro-styled ball park was a bit lonesome out on the northeast edge of central Houston in 2000, but no more."
According to Tolson, Downtown Houston is quickly transforming from a day-time business community into a "true community," with "residents, retail shops, and restaurants that remain open long after the lunch rush." Tolson's concern is for the parking situation at the eastern ends of Houston, where demand from sold out games will clash with less supply due to all that revitalization. The remainder of the article reads like a guide to accessing the ballpark, whether by driving or by taking public transit—the Purple and Green lines of the METRORail system have a station just blocks from the stadium.
FULL STORY: Hot development and a hot team could spell headache for Astros fans

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research