June 27, 2005
G U L F  C O A S T  G R O W T H  N E W S
A publication of the Gulf Coast Institute

NOTABLE QUOTE
≥Todayπs commitment to seek significant new federal funding and legislative actions create an historic opportunity to significantly improve mobility and travel choices for our citizens. From urban to suburban, bus to rail, this is a comprehensive and balanced plan that can compete more effectively for federal funding.≤
METRO Chairman David S. Wolff in a press release about the new Metro Solutions plan and agreement. http://www.ridemetro.org/latest/releases/pr061305_1.asp

LIVABLE HOUSTON INITIATIVE
Westchase Long Range Plan to be discussed
June 22 event will hear about urban proposals
Representatives of the Westchase District will show the draft community-wide vision plan for the District. The plan comes from an elaborate, on-going process that has involved stakeholders, public agencies, and nonprofit community organizations, and imagines a walkable, mixed-use urban area. The meeting is Wednesday, July 27, noon-1:30 pm, Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons, second floor. Bring your lunch. For more information call 713-523-5757. The Gulf Coast Institute and the Houston-Galveston Area Council host Livable Houston/Smart Growth bring-your-own-lunch meetings that are open to the public on the fourth Wednesday of every month. http://www.gulfcoastinstitute.org

PERSPECTIVE
New transit plan seen as improved
Crossley analyzes Metroπs proposal
Metroπs new transit plan is a significant improvement over the one seen during the referendum in 2003, says Gulf Coast Institute President David Crossley. An analysis is attached and is also available at http://www.livablehouston.com.

REGIONAL NOTES
Klineberg optimistic about future
Treatment of ethnic transformation key to success
≥There are reasons for enormous optimism in Houston,≤ Stephen Klineberg, Ph.D, told Greater Houston Partnership members recently. He was there to unveil his annual survey, ≥Public Perceptions in Remarkable Times: Central Conclusions from 24 Years of Houston Surveys. Dr. Klineberg also said ≥We are charting the irreversible process of change. No one planned for the ethnic transformation that happened here in Houston. How we play those cards will determine where Houstonπs success is.≤ http://www.houston.org/atwork/200506/klineberg.htm. The Klineberg report is at http://www.houstonareasurvey.org.

Sustainable cities
Houston takes last place in ranking of 25 cities
SustainLane, a ≥community-generated guide for living a better life,≤ recently measured 25 US cities across 12 major categories to determine their levels of sustainability. Sustainlane studied air quality, water quality, transportation, LEED (Leadership in Environmental & Energy Design) building, land use, zoning, and the availability of farmerπs markets, among other factors. The top two sustainable cities, San Francisco and Portland, were ranked far ahead of other cities. About Houston, SustainLane wrote, ≥The city was built on oil and it shows.≤ Houston tied for 19th in transportation and in tap water, and 21st in air quality. Solid waste diversion tied for 23rd. But, according to Warren Karlenzig, chief strategy officer with SustainLane, the most troubling fact about Houston was that finding someone with all the information they needed seemed nearly impossible. Karlenzig said that Houston, unlike other cities, had no official contact information online for environmental programs. On the bright side, Houston seems to be catching on to the idea of LEED building, with one certified LEED building, and 17 registered buildings in the pipeline. http://sustainlane.com/cityindex/citypage.php?name=ranking

Readerπs Digest ranks åcleanestπ cities
Houston rated 41st
Readerπs Digest rated US cities for ≥cleanliness,≤ studying air quality, water quality, industrial pollution, Superfund sites, and sanitation. The survey studied entire metropolitan areas, rather than the cities alone. The top 10 were Portland, OR; San Jose, CA; Buffalo, NY; Columbus, OH; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Rochester, NY; Austin, TX; Orlando, FL; and San Diego, CA. Houston ranked behind New Orleans, Dallas, and Atlanta, but ahead of Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago.  http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=15115

Envision Houston kickoff reception
June 27 5:30 – 7:30 United Way Building
A reception for the Envision Houston Region project consultant, John Fregonese, will be held Monday, June 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the United Way building. The event will include a preview of the visioning process Blueprint Houston and the Houston-Galveston Area Council will collaborate on this fall. At five regional public workshops, participants will discuss where they think expected area growth should occur, and the type of transportation system people will use to get around. The United Way building is at 50 Waugh Drive. RSVP hsweetnam@blueprinthouston.org.

Peak Oil Mini Conference
First Unitarian Universalist Church, Jul 9, 1-5 pm
A conference on ≥peak oil≤ will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on July 9, from 1-5 pm. The even will feature a group of local speakers as well as a showing of a video called ≥The End of Suburbia.≤ Speakers will address sustainability, alternative energy, and Smart Growth, among other topics. Donation of $5.00 suggested. The Church is at 5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore. Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@hotmail.com

Scoping meetings on Trans-Texas Corridor
Throughout summer, across the region
Public meetings about the Trans-Texas Corridor will be held in all the following places from 5-8 pm:
Cleveland, July 19 Cleveland High School, Commons Area, 2000 E. Houston St
Humble, July 20, Humble Civic center, 7233 Will Clayton Parkway
Pasadena, July 21, Tx Chiropractic College, Russell Ed. Center, 5912 Spencer Hwy Hempstead, July 25, Hempstead High School Cafeteria, 801 Donoho
Rosenberg, July 26, Rosenberg Civic Center, 3825 Hwy 36 S
Sealy, July 27, Selman Intermediate School Cafeteria, 1741 Hwy 90 W
Katy, July 28, Katy ISD Merrel Center (South Foyer), 6301 S. Stadium Lane
Magnolia, August 8, W. Montgomery C. Community Dev. Center 31355 Magnolia Industrial Park Lane
Navasota, August 9, Navasota ISD Intermediate Gym, 705 E. Washington Ave.
Huntsville, August 10, Walker C. Fairgrounds (main Hall), 3925 Hwy. 30 W
Trinity, August 11, Trinity Community Center, Main Hall, 502 South Robb St
For more information, http://www.i69corridorstudy.com/global/public_meetings/

NOTES FROM OTHER PLACES
EDUCATION
Urban schools performing better
Test results reach national averages
Big-city school systems are getting better, according to Governingπs Otis White. Reviewing a controversy stirred when Baltimoreπs mayor boasted of the school districtπs improved test scores, White notes that "Baltimore just fits right in with the urban school trend." According to the Council of Great City Schools, the percentage of urban 4th graders scoring at or above grade level in math in state-administered tests rose from 44.1 in 2002 to 55.3 in 2004. Reading proficiency also rose among 4th graders, from 43.1 percent to 51 percent. White finds many ≥parents≤ for the new success. He credits the school systems themselves, along with their political overseers. He even credits the ≥much-maligned≤ No Child Left Behind Act, which ≥shined a spotlight onäthe persistent achievement gap among ethnic groups. One result is that educators are getting much more serious about teaching Latino and African-American children.≤ http://governing.com/notebook/prev.htm

URBANISM
Banker says smart growth makes economic sense
Rising real estate prices lead to urban development
Anthony Santomero, a regional head of the Federal Reserve Banks, sees this as a time of opportunity for Smart Growth, according to Reuters. Because of rising property values, Santomero says, ≥It now makes economic sense to develop, redevelop, and revitalize many neighborhoods that had fallen into decay and disrepair,≤ because ≥building costs are significantly less than going market values.≤ Santomero also points out that homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for urban living. He noted that home prices in metropolitan Philadelphia appreciated an average of 16 percent per year in the second half of the 1990s, while in the center city neighborhood prices soared 120 percent. While Philadelphia was losing 4 percent of its population in the last ten years, center city grew by 5 percent "The confluence of a housing boom and a social trend encouraging emigrating into America's cities has made the concept of smart growth and urban renewal economically feasible," he said.

Mandating urban density in Massachusetts
State wants to force towns to adopt smart growth policies
In a Boston Globe editorial, Republican Governor Mitt Romney is praised for ≥working hard to implement a law that will encourage the construction of housing in so-called smart growth zoning districts.≤ But the paper urges him to do even more. The state congress has passed legislation intended to encourage communities to loosen zoning restrictions so housing can be built on smaller lots in downtown areas and near transit stops. But the paper notes that the current incentives have failed to spark the desired development. A recent Task Force estimated that the Commonwealth needs an additional 3,300 new housing units (beyond the 20,000 that are currently built) annually to stabilize housing costs. The Globe warns, ≥If incentives do not produce enough housing starts, the state needs to consider a tougher approach - perhaps reducing school building assistance and other aid to recalcitrant cities and towns. Restrictive housing policies should not be allowed to throttle the Massachusetts economy.≤ http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/05/30/housing_incentive/

Anti-sprawl measure in New York State
New tax would pay for parks, preservation
Republican governor George Pataki has introduced legislation intended to help local governments fight sprawl. According to The Daily Star, the Community Preservation Act will allow communities to impose a real-estate transfer tax to fund to a variety of programs. The bill calls for a tax of up to 2 percent on the part of a housing sale price that is over the local median value. For example, if the median price in a county is $200,000, and a house sells for $300,000, the tax would apply to $100,000. The money will go into a fund to pay for acquiring open lands to be used as parks, and for historic preservation.  Local politicians praised Patakiπs efforts, but realtors charge the bill will create another barrier to home ownership.  http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/05/25/ops9.html

Majority of humanity will soon live in cities
UN report says 411 cities have over a million people
According to a prediction by the United Nations, very soon more than half of all humans will be living in cities, according to the BBC.  BBC notes that the 20th Century was ≥the century of urbanization.≤ In 1900, only 14% of humanity lived in cities. By 2000, 47% did so. In 1950, there were 83 cities worldwide with populations over 1 million, but by 2000, 411 cities had reached this size. Increased pressure will be placed on resources and services. Analysts fear that in developing countries, housing and basic urban services will not be able to keep pace with growing populations. One billion people, one-sixth of the world's population, now live in shanty towns. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4561183.stm

ENVIRONMENT
Green cities
Mayors push for sustainability
Big city mayors from around the world recently signed a series of agreements to improve the environmental conditions of their cities, according to Reuters. The signing ceremony in San Francisco on World Environment Day committed more than 50 of the world's largest cities to "build an ecologically sustainable, economically dynamic, and socially equitable future for our urban citizens.≤ (No one from Houston attended or signed.) "What we have accomplished here in San Francisco will change the world," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. The accords call for 21 actions aimed at putting cities on a path to greener, cleaner, healthier environments for their current residents and the estimated 1 million people moving to cities each week. The programs seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030, set a policy of zero waste going to landfills and incinerators by 2040, ensure public parks within a half mile of every city resident by 2015, and safe drinking water for all by 2015. The Mayors also ranked the worldπs cities in a number of categories. In ≥Best Cities,≤ only 11 US cities made the list, led by Honolulu and San Francisco. No Texas cities made the list. http://www.citymayors.com/environment/environment_day.html

TRANSPORTATON
Garden Club supports åenvironmentally responsibleπ transportation
Organization releases position paper
The Garden Club of America (GCA) has released a position paper stating that the organization ≥supports independent, academic, peer-reviewed scientific research as the basis for formulation of responsible public policy and legislation,≤ especially regarding transportation policy.  GCA views ≥transportation legislation as a significant determinant of the quality of our air, water, plants and scenery.≤  GCA calls for legislation that supports the Clean Air Act, provides funding for the further development of public transportation, encourages biodiversity in roadside plantings, and which ≥values protection of historic, cultural and natural assets, and encourages acquisition of easements to protect scenic and historic sites,≤ among other goals.

Monorail contract awarded
Fluor subsidiary wins Seattle contract
Cascadia Monorail Company, the Fluor entity created specifically to compete for the Seattle Monorail Green Line, has won the approval of the Seattle Monorail Project (SMP) to design, build, operate, and maintain a 14-mile monorail between downtown Seattle and surrounding communities. Cascadiaπs team consists of more than 20 mass transit firms. "Being able to move forward with this world-class team of companies to build the Monorail Green Line is a great opportunity for everyone involved, including the people of Seattle," said Joel Horn, executive director of the SMP. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer acknowledged in an editorial that the ≥Project is still a long way from being built,≤ but noted that ≥monorail supportersähave earned a moment of celebration and congratulation.≤

ECONOMICS
Los Angeles living wage program called success
Study finds significant pay raises, minimal job loss
The Los Angeles living wage ordinance has raised pay for nearly 10,000 jobs with minimal employment loss, according to a new study by the University of California. Nearly 70 percent of workers affected by the law are low-income and only 4 percent are teenagers. The Living Wage policy, which Los Angeles passed in 1997, currently requires city contractors and others to pay $10.03 an hour, or $8.78 plus a $1.25 contribution to health benefits (adjusted annually). The average mandatory pay increase was $1.50 per hour, or $2,600 per year. Critics of living wage laws argue that they will lead to job loss, but the study ≥shows that the Los Angeles living wage ordinance has provided significant wage increases to mostly low-income workers with minimal job reductions," according to one co-author. Businesses have benefited from declines in employee turnover and absenteeism. The law has not, however, succeeded in pushing firms to provide health insurance. Over a dozen cities, including Miami, Phoenix, Memphis, Little Rock, and Richmond, are considering living wage legislation. http://tinyurl.com/e2tkj

ENVIRONMENT
Changing planet revealed in atlas
≥Dramatic transformations≤ seen
An atlas of environmental change compiled by the United Nations in collaboration with organizations including the United States Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), shows explosive growth and changes around some of the major cities of the world such as Beijing, Dhaka, Delhi, and Santiago. The atlas, called ≥One Planet, Many People,≤ was released in conjunction with World Environment Day. It compares satellite images taken over the past few decades with contemporary ones. The photos, many of them taken by NASA, show ≥the effects of retreating glaciers on mountains and in polar regions, deforestation in South America and forest fires across sub-Saharan Africa.≤ http://www.na.unep.net/OnePlanetManyPeople/index.php

EVENTS
National Preservation Conference Portland Sep 27 – Oct 2.  This yearπs conference deals with revitalizing communities, and with protecting Americaπs cities, suburbs, towns, and landscapes. https://www.nthpconference.org  or call 800-944-6847. Register by July 31 for significant conference discounts.

Smart Code workshops Miami Oct 5 – 8. Andres Duany, among others, will lead workshops in Smart Code planning. The SmartCode emphasizes form-based buildings codes, rather than single-use zoning. The Smart Code principles are said to form the most comprehensive land development template available for creating environmentally sustainable, economically competitive, and truly livable places.  Topics include the scales of transect planning, ranges of elements in the T-1 to T-6 zones, and public works standards that integrate well-designed places. http://www.placemakers.com/info/workshop.html

Rail~Volution 11, Salt Lake City, Sept 8-11. This year's conference will focus on the importance of partnerships across multiple fronts in shaping livable communities. http://www.railvolution.com

New Partners for Smart Growth 5th annual conference, Denver, Jan 26-28, 2006, at the Adam's Mark Denver Hotel. http://www.outreach.psu.edu/C&I/SmartGrowth/

Prepared by David Theis

Gulf Coast Growth News is a publication of the Gulf Coast Institute. The Gulf Coast Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Houston. To support the Institute, go to http://www.gulfcoastinstitute.org. To join the Institute's 1000 Friends of Houston, go to http://www.1000friendsofhouston.org