Urban Edge

Stories, perspectives and insights from the Kinder Institute

Can you design a city by playing with toys? James Rojas thinks so.

Most adults aren’t interested in playing with toys. James Rojas hopes to change their minds. After all, he says, the future of their cities might depend on it.

Pierce Elevated May Go Back to the Future

Could Houston reconnect its downtown grid? If a new TxDOT plan for I-45 gets approved, midtown and downtown would look a lot more like they did in 1962.

Houston Business and Civic Leader aim to Close the Skills Gap

In Houston, there’s a growing recognition that offering training to fill “middle skills” jobs can strengthen the local economy and improve the earnings of residents.

Director's Address - April 2015

A message from the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research for the month of April.

Ryan Holeywell Joins the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

As a kid growing up in the Houston suburbs, I couldn’t wait to move to the East Coast – anywhere on the East Coast – and live in a fast-paced city where street life thrives. As a child, I was fortunate enough to visit places like New York, Philadelphia and Boston, where residents crammed sidewalks and subways, and impressive architecture created inspiring urban vistas. I knew that’s where I wanted to be.

Reinventing Economies: An academic round table discussion with Mary Walshok

Cities can dramatically improve their economic competitiveness if their industries learn to collaborate, Dr. Mary Walshok said at the Kinder Institute on Thursday.

Should Minority Houstonians be Moving to Newer Suburbs?

Not all suburbs are the same, and that matters for equity.

Connecting Job Proximity and Gentrification: What's going on Houston?

While the overall rate of job proximity in the region is positive, high-poverty and majority-minority neighborhoods are facing declines in nearby jobs

Director's Address - March 2015

A message from the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research for the month of March.

87% of New Texans Live in Big Metros

Last year, almost 40% of all U.S. population growth occurred in large metropolitan areas in the three largest Sun Belt states – Texas, Florida, and California.

So there's good news and bad news about income inequality in Houston

According to a new report released by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program today, Houston is one of only two major American cities where the average income of both the city’s wealthiest (top 5%) and poorest (bottom 20%) residents increased.