Posts Tagged ‘design’
Houston Tomorrow Form-Based Codes Presentation
This was an interesting presentation, though somewhat limited in its applicability to Houston. While form-based code is extremely relevant for Houston, most of the panel presenters were focused on understanding the difference between conventional zoning and form-based code, and they spent most of their time talking about the processes and challenges involved in transitioning from conventional [...]
Context-Sensitive Streets
Continuing in our discussion of some of the basic ideas behind good urbanism, today we’re going to look at Context-Sensitive Streets (or CSS). This idea came about after many years of study on the neighborhood impacts of very wide suburban thoroughfares, and the design requirements that mandated them. The definitive source of information on Context-Sensitive [...]
The Urban Corridors Debate
Yesterday I attended the Livable Houston lunch meeting put together by the Houston Tomorrow foundation. The topic was Houston’s Urban Corridors program, and the discussion was pretty good. Here’s an overview: The city’s current development codes make truly urban, pedestrian-oriented development extremely difficult outside of the CBD. Meanwhile, METRO is building a massive new light-rail [...]
Will and Won’t
Stemming from the last Houston Reimagined post: “West Gray Streetcar,” there has been a lot of discussion about walking in Houston. I thought I’d add a few of my thoughts on the subject along with a few photos from a trip that I walked today. Today my wife and I went to the Houston Zoo. [...]
Whatever shall we do…
“How can we save the suburbs?” asks Allison Arieff. In urban areas, there’s rich precedent for the transformation or reuse of abandoned lots or buildings. Vacant lots have been converted into pocket parks, community gardens and pop-up stores (or they remain vacant, anxiously awaiting recovery and subsequent conversion into high-end office space condos). Old homes [...]
A thought experiment on Urban Corridors
Tory Gattis over at Houston Strategies was talking urban corridors a few days ago, and had this to say: Had a conversation this week with Josh at HRG about the Urban Corridors initiative moving forward at the Houston Planning Commission, which involves encouraging dense development near Metro rail stops. There are debates about the right [...]