Housing Solutions

City officials, home builders and affordable housing developers gathered in northeast Houston this week to celebrate a new model for mixed-income housing. The first-of-its-kind project, a residential community called Robins Landing, will have many of the same attributes as some of the region’s sought-after master-planned communities: green space, walking trails and a convenient “town center” where residents can shop, see a doctor or visit a library.

There is a lot to like about accessory dwelling units—garage apartments, in-law cottages, granny flats—as a form of housing. Done well, ADUs can help meet the needs for multigenerational families, workers and students, and they offer a gentler form of infill density in urban neighborhoods. They can also provide a source of income and build wealth for the homeowners who choose to build them. What will it take to spark a “backyard revolution” in Houston?

The urban population centers in Texas are losing their competitive edge in terms of housing costs, and it's becoming more expensive to build houses everywhere. Could 3D printed housing help cities keep pace with demand and keep costs under control? One of the largest tests of the technology will soon be underway.

Houston has made considerable progress in reducing homelessness in the past decade. We know exactly what it will take to become the first major city to effectively end homelessness—including how many affordable housing units we’ll need to build.

Many houses of worship own empty and underused buildings and land. Cities and counties need properties for affordable housing. Seems like a match made in, well, heaven.