Urban Edge

Stories, perspectives and insights from the Kinder Institute

Federal transit funding could be tied to housing production if this bill passes

America has a shortage of 7.2 million affordable homes, and 8.1 million Americans spend more than half of their income on housing, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Texas cities 'surprisingly' featured in report about combating green gentrification

Park improvements and gentrification are said to go hand in hand, but a new report sheds light on how this trend can stop.

How American cities are handling neighborhood change, gentrification and displacement

According to a Kinder Institute report released last year, the pace of neighborhood change in Houston has accelerated since the year 2000.

In Texas, this Latina's research is helping close the education gap

Ruth Lopez Turley's data showed that full-day pre-K had a more positive impact on school readiness, part of the work at the Houston Education Research Consortium.

'Invisible Women:' How cities aren't including women in their plans

From city infrastructure to car safety to proper lighting to health, cities can do better to be more inclusive toward women's urban needs.

Texas is paying more for full-day pre-K. But some school districts are delaying.

How are Texas school districts using state pre-K funding to expand educational options for 3- and 4-year-olds? It depends where you look.

Urban tree distribution reveals neighborhood inequalities within cities, including Houston

In a city notorious for rain, heat and humidity (and often all three at once), shade is a highly-coveted, heat-reprieving resource for all Houstonians. And yet, the presence of shade at times feels unequal depending on where you are in the city.

How climate change is going to affect cities, urban spaces

Cities are growing and as climate change continues, the urban landscape will continue to feel the effects of what's being described as a "crisis."

The urban debate involving scooters, bikes, pedestrians and cars needs to be reframed

From Central Park West to San Diego’s hip North Park neighborhood, cities are removing parking spaces, replacing them with bike lanes, and getting pushback from residents and business owners.

Galveston Bay Park Plan is only one way to protect Houston from flooding

A Q&A with Jim Blackburn, the co-director and primary spokesperson for Rice's SSPEED Center, reveals the importance of various flood protection systems.

With an unprecedented amount of public input on the I-45 project, now what?

A new working paper on the 'freeway revolts' of yesteryear sheds light on what's at stake locally in the latest highway project.

Cities are getting hotter. This guide can be the simple start to cooling them down.

This hot city summer reading guide is for all you hot boy and girl urbanists out there.

H-GAC approves more than $150 million for I-45 project to 'stay in line' for TxDOT funds

The committee committed an additional $51.5 million to go toward community planning and mitigation.

Gap between income growth and housing cost increases continues to grow

As of March 2019, only a handful of the largest metropolitan areas had housing markets that would be considered "healthy."

Long overlooked, Pleasantville hopes big grant, partnership means big change

In the Ship Channel's shadow, the small community was selected to be part of a Gulf Coast collaboration fighting health inequities.