Minimum Lot Size Reforms big win for Houston, AI-resistant HTX economy, 'Abundance' and Housing, and Cloud Streets!
Life has been busy and I haven't posted in a while, so the smaller items have gotten backlogged:
Abundance and Housing: Ezra Klein has a new book out called "Abundance," and Evan covered it at Houstonia. The core idea is that we need more of things – housing, clean energy, etc. – and that often means overcoming local opposition and regulatory hurdles. Sounds familiar, right? Houston's approach, particularly on housing, often feels like a practical application of this "abundance" mindset compared to more restrictive cities. Separately, Evan notes the interesting political dynamic where YIMBYism (Yes In My Backyard) focused on housing abundance is finding allies across the traditional political spectrum, driven by the sheer need for more housing.
Minimum Lot Size Reforms: Speaking of housing abundance, the Pew Trusts did an analysis last year highlighting Houston's success with minimum lot size reform. They found it significantly unlocked affordable homeownership opportunities. Key takeaways include that these reforms allowed for thousands of new, more affordable homes closer to job centers without subsidies, providing a market-driven solution to affordability challenges. It's a prime example of how lighter regulations can yield positive results. Some key points:
- The reform led to the construction of over 34,000 townhouses from 2007-2020, mostly on commercial, industrial, or multifamily properties.
- The resulting townhouses provided more affordable family-sized housing in the urban core compared to other new homes.
- The townhouses were larger than the single-family homes they replaced, offering more living space.
- The increased housing supply did not lead to displacement of Black and Hispanic residents; instead, Houston saw population growth in these demographics.
- An opt-out provision (block votes) helped minimize opposition to the reform but also limited development in some areas.
- Houston's experience shows land-use reforms can spur housing, offer affordable options, and limit displacement.
Houston: AI-Resistant, Educated, and Affordable? An interesting academic paper analyzing metropolitan areas based on education levels, exposure to AI disruption, and housing costs puts Houston in a very strong position. According to the analysis (Table 7, p. 24 of this SSRN paper, also mentioned in the NY Times), Houston stands out. Among large metros with high education, low AI job exposure, and affordable housing, Houston is by far the largest (7.5 million population vs. 1.5 million for the next largest). This suggests Houston may be uniquely positioned for resilience and growth in the coming AI-driven economic shifts.
Cloud Streets! On a final lighter note, Space City Weather was kind enough to post some cool "cloud street" photos I took during some interesting weather patterns. They were pretty cool and like nothing I've seen before.
Labels: affordability, economy, growth, home affordability, land-use regulation, tech
Astrodome to become SpaceX Mission Control & Starship Facility Under Musk Deal!
In a stunning development poised to reshape Houston's aerospace identity and finally resolve the decades-long Astrodome question, sources confirmed early Thursday that Harris County has reached a landmark agreement with SpaceX to transfer the iconic structure to the private space exploration company. Following months of closely guarded negotiations, the deal paves the way for the "Eighth Wonder of the World" to be transformed into a cutting-edge mission control center and Starship development facility, tentatively dubbed "StarDome Houston."
Details outline a multi-faceted agreement where Harris County relinquishes control of the Dome and immediate surrounding acreage in exchange for significant long-term investment commitments and ambitious job creation targets from SpaceX, reportedly numbering over 5,000 high-technology positions within the first five years.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, in remarks prepared for a later announcement, is expected to hail the agreement as a "transformative public-private partnership that honors Houston's legacy as Space City while boldly charting its future." The move effectively ends years of debate and uncertainty surrounding the Astrodome's fate, shifting from preservation concerns to integration within one of the world's most dynamic technology ventures.
SpaceX's plans for the Astrodome are nothing short of audacious. The company intends to leverage the Dome's vast, unobstructed interior volume – a key selling point during negotiations – to establish a primary Mission Control hub ("Mission Control Alpha") significantly larger than its current Hawthorne operations. Furthermore, conceptual plans reveal the integration of advanced manufacturing and assembly capabilities specifically geared towards the Starship program. This includes the potential for vertical assembly of Starship vehicles within the Dome structure itself, necessitating some architectural modifications.
Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, provided a characteristically brief statement via internal memo: "Houston has the energy, both literal and figurative. The Astrodome provides the volume needed for true interplanetary scale. Essential for making humanity multi-planetary. Plus, the acoustics are great! To Mars! 🚀"
The integration of such a high-tech industrial and command facility into the existing NRG Park ecosystem presents obvious logistical challenges. Coordination between SpaceX operations, Houston Texans games, Rodeo Houston, and other events will require an unprecedented scheduling matrix. Discussions reportedly include SpaceX providing "enhanced aerial surveillance and communications bandwidth" during major events as a goodwill gesture. Traffic implications are addressed via proposed dedicated Boring Company employee tunnels connecting the site to key transportation corridors like Loop 610 and Highway 288, aiming for "minimal net increase in surface vehicles."
The transformation of the Astrodome into StarDome Houston marks the end of one era and the dramatic beginning of another. While questions remain about the technical feasibility, environmental reviews, and the precise impact on the surrounding community, the deal undeniably injects a powerful new variable into Houston's economic and cultural landscape. Whether this bold gamble solidifies Houston's position at the forefront of the new space race or creates unforeseen urban complexities remains to be seen, but the Eighth Wonder of the World is, it seems, finally poised for a purpose as ambitious as its initial conception.
Hope you enjoyed this year's April Fools post ;-D (with a little help from AI)
Here are previous years if you missed 'em and would like a chuckle:
