Urban Edge

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

PARK(ing) Day Returns to Houston, After Hurricane Harvey Cancellation Last Year

The annual event returned this week for the fourth year.

Urban Review: Pizza and Potholes, The School Voucher Families Really Need and More

This week, scenes from Florence's devastation, how mayors responded to a pizza chain publicity stunt, research on expanded school lunch program and the school voucher families really need.

New Report Documents Stages of Gentrification in Austin

Commissioned by the city council, a recent report considers which neighborhoods are most vulnerable to gentrification and which have already felt its impact.

Mayors Acknowledge Inequality For the Most Part, But May Still Be Misunderstanding It

A new survey shows that most mayors are aware of inequality and discrimination, but they tend to think its better than compared to the rest of the country and likely discount its impact on key services.

Study: Black Renter Households Pay A Rent Premium

Using a robust national data set of voucher holders, researchers found significant rent premiums for black renters compared to white renters for similar properties in the same area.

Urban Review: Politicians on Twitter, Poverty in Texas and a Climate Action Plan for Houston

This week, why your political representative shouldn't block you, what the latest poverty numbers mean for Texas cities and a new climate action plan in the works for Houston.

Q+A: Disaster, Greening and Displacement

BCNUEJ | Reflections from a resiliency and environmental justice expert on how greening strategies after Hurricane Harvey are connecting to displacement.

Study: Northern Third Ward vs. Gentrification

In Houston's Third Ward, organizing against gentrification isn't just about property and displacement. It's also about building community capacity.

Report Describes Fragmented Highway Enforcement in Houston

One clear path for improvement is the highway enforcement of Harris County and the Houston region.

Urban Review: Hot Cities, Emergency Prep in Houston and Another Anti-Homeless Ordinance Struck Down

This week, as cities heat up, how are they addressing rising temperatures? Plus, a look at newly released data on self-reported emergency preparedness in the Houston metropolitan area, the latest court ruling on a sidewalk sleeping ban in Boise and more.