Urban Edge Stories by William Fulton

Editor’s note: This is the first of two posts exploring the long-term effects the COVID-19 crisis will have on the American city. Once we get through this, cities as we know them will be changed forever. 

One day before the release of the city’s Resilient Houston plan on Wednesday, a new network of resilient cities was publicly announced at the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. Houston will be a member of the network.

Kinder Institute for Urban Research Director Bill Fulton recalls the optimism and influence of his mentor, the urban affairs writer and journalist Neal Peirce. 

A comparison of data from the latest American Community Survey (ACS) with that of the ACS from 2008 to 2012 revealed something interesting about the continued steady growth of the Houston-area population.

Texas’ leading political figures have made it clear they don’t have much use for local government. From curbing cities' ability to generate property tax revenue to a call for localities from lobbying in Austin, state officials continue to limit the power of local governments.

The World Series faceoff revealed some additional similarities between the two seemingly-contrasting cities. 

This is the first in a series of posts on the I-45 project that will be published on Monday and Wednesday throughout June.

Texas' largest metro areas are credited for 85 percent of the state's overall growth since 2010.

A new federal program meant to spur investment in underserved areas could bring positive changes. Or it could hasten gentrification, particularly in Houston.

The program allows private entities to contract for law enforcement patrol but it presents funding and equity challenges.

Zocalo Public Square | "Sometimes we couldn’t even agree on what to call our city."

Governing | Preempting local laws is no longer a trend in just conservative states.

The city needs a profound change in its motoring culture – not just from motorists themselves, but also from the authorities.

Half of the state's recent growth was thanks to natural increase.

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

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

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

Coming to the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, who knew that my experience in Ventura would translate so well to Houston?