Urban Edge

Insights, perspectives and stories about building better cities and better lives

The Eight Elements of a Successful Innovation District

With a major renovation in the works, Houston's new innovation district should seek to have these characteristics.

Urban Review: Maternal mortality, suburban growth and a Houston model for Cleveland transit

This week, a look at the latest responses to the new study on Texas maternal mortality rates, a deep dive into growth in the Houston area and Houston as a model for Cleveland.

Texas Education Officials Promise Focus on Math, Reading After "Lagging" Report Card

Texas Tribune | National exam results show Texas and the nation stagnating in academic achievement for elementary and middle school students. Experts have different takes on what state education officials should do to fix it.

Houston Suburbs Are Booming, But Harris County Is Not

The Houston metro area has lost some of its population growth edge, but most of the decline is coming from its urban core.

Six Years After Graduation? How Do HISD Students Fare?

A new Houston Education Research Consortium report tracks student outcomes.

Urban Review: Great Places, Empty San Diego Houses and New, Post-Harvey Development Regulations

This week, a look at the Great Places of Texas, new estimates of houses sitting vacant in San Diego, zoning fights in Los Angeles and Houston's new development regulations.

Getting Flood Mitigation Right: Five Lessons

A new report provides an exhaustive look at potential flood fixes and how to understand each.

Mitigating Flooding Requires Multiple Strategies

Engineering, green infrastructure and land protections must all be part of the flooding solution.

Lessons in Local Government From A Former California Mayor

Growth wars, parking fights and more. What two years as mayor of a coastal California town taught the Kinder Institute's current director.

Houston Versus Chicago: A Reflection

A new sculpture sparked the latest in Houston and Chicago's urban rivalry. But some murkier truths lurk beneath the surface.