• Houston tackles missing-middle housing with code reform

    Although Houston is famous for having no zoning, its land-use codes are nearly as complicated. Imminent revision of parking, dwelling, and lot size rules could trigger a wave of sorely needed missing middle housing.
    Note: This article first appeared on Strong Towns .​ Houston has long been a poster child for urban planning ills. Mega highways cleave downtown, with an expansion potentially on the way . No zoning regulations have led to a free-for-all with endless rows of townhouses dominating prime...Read more

  • The potential of mixed-use health districts

    Experts discuss hospital-oriented development and its dramatic potential to transform cities big and small.
    Hospitals are economic anchors in both large cities and smaller communities, employing 6.7 million people and generating $900 billion in revenue a year, nationwide 1 . While medical centers contribute substantially to jobs and wealth, they typically generate an automobile-oriented built environment...Read more

  • Putting faith in housing solutions

    As rising rents and exclusionary zoning have failed to provide housing for many, a Durham church looks at an ancient model of homes for the elderly.
    Charitable housing has been part of American religious tradition since its founding. For early American faith communities, these traditions stretched back for centuries. Today, this sacred mission of providing housing to those in need is facing new challenges. For many, rising rents and home prices...Read more

  • Hierarchy of centers for the 15-minute city

    I recently spoke on a panel discussing the 15-minute city, and the cool graphic above was presented showing a hierarchy of mixed-use centers throughout the City of Portland, Oregon. This kind of analysis would help many cities plan to achieve an urban environment where owning an automobile is...Read more