The city without zoning

Chapter 1

How Houston grew without a master plan

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Answer

Chapter 2

The hidden rules shaping the streets

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Answer

Chapter 3

Living in the ultimate urban mix

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YOUR GOAL

Master of The city without zoning

Ch 1 · How Houston grew without a master plan

dash The founders who set the stage

Houston Block Party

dash Houston Block Party

dash How the free market shapes neighborhoods

dash The wild visual mix of the streets

dash The three historic votes against zoning

dash Houston No Zoning

No zoning in Houston city! (That's right!) / We build whatever we like! (Oh yeah!) / A skyscraper next to a bungalow home! (Oh-oh!)

How the free market shapes neighborhoods

dash How the free market shapes neighborhoods

Fun Fact

Houston zoning: Houston is the only major city in the United States without a formal zoning code.

The founders who set the stage

dash The founders who set the stage

Glossary

zoning (noun)
The municipal regulation of the land and buildings in a community. Houston voters defeated proposals to establish this type of regulation in 1948, 1962, and 1993.

Quiz

Which is the only major city in the top ten most populous US cities without zoning?

Gossip

Would you live next to a noisy roller coaster if your house was cheap?

Quiz

Why did Houston business leaders historically oppose the creation of zoning laws?

Quiz

Which unusual visual contrast is commonly seen on Houston streets due to no zoning?

Quiz

In which years did Houston voters reject citywide zoning proposals?

Quiz

What is a common result of having no zoning laws on commercial businesses in Houston?

Quiz

What is the primary driver of land use in Houston instead of government zoning?

Quiz

What body of water did Houston's founders use to establish the original trading post?

Quiz

Who were the two brothers who founded the city of Houston in 1836?