Preserving the Soul of Houston's Third Ward: With Transit-Oriented Developments + Form-based Codes

Abstract

Transit-Oriented Development ("TOD") has been used as a smart growth catalyst for renewal, maximizing accessibility and opportunity. However, these new investments can raise rapid appreciation in property and housing costs, spurring the possibility for gentrification in low-income neighborhoods. Many TODs fail to integrate this new mixed-use development with the context, potentially obliterating existing communities. The use of form-based codes in designing TODs can preserve the social infrastructure that makes up the soul of the community. Third Ward, Houston, TX will serve as a case study addressing how a TOD can help revitalize a vernacular neighborhood by revealing its own identity and "sense of place" against the pressures of gentrification.