City officials often ask, “What target price point for new homes will ensure that we can balance our books?” Here’s why they’re asking the wrong question.
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A recent D Magazine story nailed the problem with Dallas’s development pattern: the city has way more infrastructure than it can afford to maintain. But its solution—assessing local taxes differently—didn’t go far enough.
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Austin needs a new Grand Bargain, one that includes everyone and exempts no one.
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Let’s walk through what it actually takes to build a small rental apartment on your property in Austin, Texas. It’s a lesson in how the city’s existing code stymies gentle, incremental, small-scale development.
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Austin’s CodeNEXT process, a dramatic overhaul of the city’s zoning code, tried to placate multiple constituencies with a “grand bargain.” The result was a draft code that satisified almost no one and failed to solve the city’s housing and growth challenges.
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This week we are examining what went wrong with Austin’s CodeNEXT process and what should be done now.
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Texas has a history of aggressively using tax incentives to lure big business: a misguided economic development approach that produces little if any public benefit. Dallas’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters falls right in line with this unfortunate pattern.
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A super-grid system could improve bussing in Dallas and other similarly-built cities.
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Frequently hailed as a shining example of a successful big box retrofit, the McAllen Main Library is a fantastic space. But is it a realistic model for retrofits across the country?
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Dallas is not financially productive. There is too much area to service and maintain and not enough wealth to do it. There's too much stuff and not enough place.
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There’s a lot of talk these days about how Texas is the new California, but you need to take that concept with a grain of salt. It’s a short term phenomenon.
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San Marcos, TX and Sandusky, OH showcase their strengths with photographs. Your vote will determine the strongest.
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Vote for the Strongest Town in this south vs. west face off.
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Michael Kovacs is a Strong Citizen spreading the message of financial resilience with his town.
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Monte Anderson of Options Real Estate is a developer from the wrong side of town. Instead of fleeing for greener pastures and easier money, however, he stayed in his community and worked to make it better. Here's how he did it.
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Chuck and Rachel discuss this week's #NoNewRoads campaign.
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Amid all of the Lone Star State’s dubious policy decisions there are actually numerous efforts under way that should interest builders of Strong Towns.
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Austin needs to demand a better I-35, where the health and well-being of our neighborhoods and communities are prioritized just as much as long distance vehicle trips.
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Patrick Kennedy is a Strong Towns member actively working to end Texas' overspending on roads. Today, he shares what got Texas to this point and how it might be able to change course.
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