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Market Urbanism

Liberalizing cities | From the bottom up

“Market Urbanism” refers to the synthesis of classical liberal economics and ethics (market), with an appreciation of the urban way of life and its benefits to society (urbanism). We advocate for the emergence of bottom up solutions to urban issues, as opposed to ones imposed from the top down.

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Nolan Gray

Nolan Gray
I am a writer living in the Washington, D.C. area. I studied philosophy, political science, and history at the University of Kentucky and will pursue a Master of City and Regional Planning degree at Rutgers University this fall. My research interests include urban economics, land-use regulation, and urban planning theory.

Send your questions, comments, and frustrations to me on Twitter at @mnolangray. You can find my personal blog here.

How Houston Regulates Land Use

September 19, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Uptown Houston

If you regularly read about cities, you might notice that Texas cities rarely seem to come up. We make cases for why Detroit is definitely coming back—just you wait! We come up with elaborate theories of how cities can become the next Silicon Valley. We spend hours coming up with a solution to New … [Read more...]

Filed Under: planning Tagged With: Houston, land-use regulation, planning, Texas, zoning

Episode 02: Emily Hamilton on Land-Use Regulation and the Cost of Housing

September 7, 2016 By Nolan Gray

San Francisco

When I was scheduling out the first few episodes of the Market Urbanism Podcast, it seemed natural to start with one of Market Urbanism's favorite topics: the relationship between land-use regulation and rising housing costs in American cities. This week I sit down with Emily Hamilton, a regular … [Read more...]

Filed Under: housing, market urbanism podcast, planning Tagged With: housing, land-use regulation, market urbanism podcast

When It Comes to Walkability, Mexico City Is Miles Ahead

August 29, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Pedestrian Street in Mexico City

  This piece was coauthored by Nolan Gray and Katarina Hall. It’s like Los Angeles, but worse. To many, that’s the mental image of Mexico City: a city of unending traffic, unbearable smog, and unrestrained horizontal expansion. Yet when one walks the streets of Mexico City, a distinct … [Read more...]

Filed Under: planning, Transportation Tagged With: bicycles, bus rapid transit, parks, transit, Transportation, walkability

Episode 01: Announcing the Market Urbanism Podcast!

August 25, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Citysape

Phew! It's finally here. After spending a good chunk of my summer researching podcasting, reaching out to potential guests, and recording my first few episodes, I am excited to announce the launch of the Market Urbanism Podcast. You can currently find the podcast on Soundcloud and PlayerFM. It … [Read more...]

Filed Under: market urbanism podcast Tagged With: market urbanism podcast

How Realistic Are the Cities of Fallout?

July 1, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Diamond City

  Even by the bizarre standard set by other fandoms, the fandom surrounding the Fallout video game series is weird. Where your typical human would rather spend a Friday night doing strange things like “hang out with friends” and “go out,” your average Fallout fan is likely spending his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, Places & Spaces Tagged With: history, urbanization, video games

Houston’s Beautiful (Yet Partial) Embrace of Market Urbanism

June 2, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Houston skyline

A metropolitan economy, if it is working well, is constantly transforming many poor people into middle-class people, many illiterates into skilled people, many greenhorns into competent citizens. … Cities don’t lure the middle class. They create it. – Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, housing, planning, Transportation, Zoning Tagged With: Dallas, Houston

Reclaiming “Redneck” Urbanism: What Urban Planners Can Learn From Trailer Parks

April 21, 2016 By Nolan Gray

"Life in a Trailer Park in Florida" (Boston Public Library/Flickr)

  Given that “redneck” and “hillbilly” remain the last acceptable stereotypes among polite society, it isn’t surprising that the stereotypical urban home of poor, recently rural whites remains an object of scorn. The mere mention of a trailer park conjures images of criminals in wifebeaters, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: housing, planning

Liberate the Garage!: Autonomous Cars and the American Dream

March 14, 2016 By Nolan Gray

Apple garage

When it comes to the impact autonomous cars will have on cities, there’s plenty of room for disagreement. Will they increase or decrease urban densities? Will they help with congestion or make it worse? At the same time, there seems to be widespread agreement on at least two things: First, far fewer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, housing, Zoning Tagged With: apple, disney, driverless cars, entrepreneurship, housing, parking, small business, zoning

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