Archive for the 'deed restrictions' Category
What really preserves a neighborhood’s character?
Closed Published by Tory Gattis August 27th, 2007 on Houston StrategiesI went to a workshop tonight put on by the City of Houston Planning Department on tools to protect neighborhoods, with a focus on deed restrictions. There was a lot of good material, but the most interesting to me was an impromptu debate that occurred…
Houston as a land use model, our skyline and social rankings, LA rail rejects “trust, but verify”, Bangkok TOD, and more
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesTime again for the miscellaneous small items, which I hope will give you plenty of reading material for a while. I’ll be traveling over the holidays, so this may be the last post for 2007. Have a Merry Christmas, and I’ll see you again in the New Yea…
The fight over development regulations intensifies
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesSpawned by the Ashby Tower controversy, the news and opinion as been coming fast and furious in the new year on the fight over planning regulations. Enough creeping regulations have been working their way onto the City Council agenda to finally raise …
Texas strength, planning debate, losing Kirby’s trees, Metro
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesThe smaller misc items have been piling up quickly since last week:Just got the announcement of the new Metro Park-and-Ride in Katy. What makes it notable is that they’re using the parking lot for the Cinemark theater out there, which is a great way t…
A simple rule for high-rise development
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesThe ordinance being developed to target the Ashby high-rise is making no one happy, so they’re looking at a delay of many months to rework it. In the meantime, the city will pull out a 69-year old driveway permit law giving a city engineer power to bl…
Intro from the land-use regulation forum
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesJust got back from the land-use forum at the GRB downtown. Overall I think it went pretty well. Good turnout too. Maybe 500+? I have a lot of notes I’ll try to boil down into my next post, along with links to the presentations when they put them up…
Doing Urban Corridors the right way, the Houston way
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesHad a conversation this week about the Urban Corridors initiative moving forward at the Houston Planning Commission, which involves encouraging dense development near Metro rail stops. There are debates about the right standards, but the real issue is…
A Pragmatic Approach to Houston’s Future (part 2 of 2)
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesContinuing from part 1 earlier this week (both parts also posted here, along with other essays). Don’t forget to watch Houston Have Your Say on the Future of Houston on PBS Channel 8 tonight at 7pm.So, given that set of realities, what’s the right a…
The top four urban stories of late ‘08 (and my response on Houston’s freedom)
Closed Published by Tory Gattis January 1st, 1970 on Houston StrategiesSo I’ve been backlogged on my Planetizen emails since October. That’s over 35+ emails with links to 700+ stories related to cities and urban planning. But I caught up last week and have selected what I think are the four most interesting stories I cam…
Congratulations to Annise Parker on her win last night, becoming, as she pointed out, the first Rice alum to become mayor of Houston 
. Between her and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, the Rice mafia now controls this town. Nerds rule, literally in thi…