A forthcoming opportunity for Houston offers a chance to consider the ingredients for a successful innovation district, and what level of intervention, public and private, is required to make the concept succeed.
"Two [Houston] task forces, one put together by city government, the other by the business community, recommended that the city designated a tech district, which could increase property values in the chosen neighborhood and boost the standing of politicians who help secure that designation," reports Lydia DePillis.
DePillis explains the rationale behind innovation districts, as promoted by think tanks like the Brookings Institution and civic boosters like Tony Hsieh of Zappos and Las Vegas fame, before digging into the "jockeying" for position in the race to locate Houston's new innovation district. Among the neighborhoods with advocates in their corner: EaDo, Montrose, and Rice Village.
FULL STORY: Where should Houston's innovation district be?
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.
Visions of the Future Houston
An ongoing exhibition in Houston imagines a city on the cusp of a new, more prosperous future.
TxDOT Approves I-45 Widening Despite Local Opposition
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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
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Spring Spectacle: Thousands of Tulips Bloom at One of LA’s Top Gardens
Descanso Gardens, one of Los Angeles County’s most beloved botanical destinations, is welcoming spring with 35,000 tulips in bloom, creating a breathtaking seasonal display expected to peak in late March.
Ratepayers Could Be on the Hook for Data Centers’ Energy Use
Without regulatory changes, data centers’ high demand for energy would be subsidized by taxpayers, according to a new study.
City Nature Challenge: Explore, Document, and Protect Urban Biodiversity
The City Nature Challenge is a global community science event where participants use the iNaturalist app to document urban biodiversity, contributing valuable data to support conservation and scientific research.
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