The West Houston Association’s Partners in Progress: Public Partnerships for Regional Flood Resilience forum was not a morning of slide decks or technical reports—it was a very candid conversation about how Houston can better protect itself from flooding. The three […]
WHA Developments
The Art of Placemaking
Placemaking, as an intentional practice, came into being in the late 1960’s, as architects, scientists, artists, geographers, planners, and designers all struggled with the impersonality and alienation of Modernism (1). The rationality of the prevalent design practice at that time, […]
Understanding Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ)
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) are an impactful yet often misunderstood tool driving infrastructure improvements and economic development across Houston and throughout the State of Texas. In simple terms, a TIRZ is a special zone where increases in property tax […]
Building Resilience: The Future of Flood Control in a Growing Region
In the wake of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, Greater Houston’s future depends on how effectively we prepare, respond, and adapt. From Hurricane Harvey to more localized but still damaging storms, the cumulative impact of flooding is not just […]
The Right Size: Rethinking Density in Master Planned Communities
The final panel of our 2025 QPD Symposium tackled one of the most loaded concepts in modern land development — Density. “We don’t say the Z-word,” Chris Browne of EHRA Engineering joked at the start, referring to zoning, and “the […]
Integrating Key Elements: Building Robust and Equitable Communities for the Future
The second panel of our 2025 Quality Planned Development (QPD) Symposium brought together leaders from healthcare, education, and land planning to explore a core question for the region’s continued success: How do we build communities that are not just livable, […]
Responding to Growth: Proactive Strategies for Planning, Infrastructure, and Community Engagement
The opening panel of our 2025 QPD Symposium tackled one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across the region: how to respond to rapid growth. The session provided a comparative look at how different cities have approached the demands […]
Growth in Greater Houston: A Look at What’s Driving It and Where It’s Headed
At our 2025 Quality Planned Development (QPD) Symposium, Brian Gates set the tone with a powerful introduction on the importance of not just managing growth, but shaping it intentionally. Following that, Lawrence Dean of Community Builders Advisory Services took the […]
Thriving Together: A Regional Blueprint for Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure
As Greater Houston experiences rapid population growth, managing infrastructure demands and guiding sustainable development are essential to ensuring long-term resilience and a high quality of life. Addressing challenges like flooding, housing affordability, and mobility requires coordinated planning that links economic […]
WHA’s 2025 Rising Leaders Topgolf Tournament
On May 8, the West Houston Association hosted its 5th Annual Rising Leaders Topgolf Tournament – an event that soared to new heights and left participants buzzing with excitement! Organized by Rising Leaders Class 9, the sell-out event attracted over […]