Patrick Tuohey

better-cities.org/community-gr... #housing

Portfolio homes show how pre-approved designs can scale - Better Cities Project Pre-approved housing design programs remain rare but are gaining traction. Overland Park’s Portfolio Homes initiative shows how cities can use them to reduce delays and lower costs without sweeping ma...

#housing

Port KC has too much power, too little oversight from Kansas City | Opinion As the port authority’s role in the city’s economic development has grown, so have the risks — financial, operational and political. | Opinion

Before the current wave of criticism, I warned in the KCStar that PortKC’s governance and subsidy model deserved far more scrutiny. The issues haven’t gone away, in fact they've gotten worse. #kcmo
www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...

"True stadium deals have never been tried."

#Kansas

Wyandotte County to hold public hearing on STAR bond financing for proposed Chiefs stadium Like their counterparts in Olathe, county leaders in Wyandotte County will consider whether to commit future tax revenue for a potential Chiefs stadium on the Kansas side.

We've reached the point in the process when the political players backing the stadium proposal fully realize that they didn't do their due diligence on the plan that sounded so good over cocktails in the owners box. They can't admit they were duped, so it's full steam ahead.

Could the World Cup really bring a touted $653 million to KC? Be skeptical | Opinion One figure promising hundreds of millions of dollars came from an organization whose only purpose is providing flattering numbers to its members. | Opinion

www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...

"We'll erect a multitude of regulations and swarms of officers to harass our people and drive up the cost of #housing. Then we'll redirect taxpayer money to offset those costs."

"Why not just roll back the regulations, sir?"

"Nobody knows."

Why minimum lot size reform should be on every city’s housing agenda - Better Cities Project Minimum lot size requirements restrict housing supply and drive up costs. Reforming them is a low-cost, high-impact step cities can take right now.

Restrictive lot size rules tend to benefit incumbent homeowners while excluding lower-income families and newcomers. #housing
better-cities.org/community-gr...

New York’s toll zone cut pollution sharply — here’s what cities should know - Better Cities Project A new Cornell-led study finds that New York City’s congestion tolling reduced PM₂.₅ pollution 22 percent inside the toll zone—adding new evidence for U.S. cities considering road pricing.

better-cities.org/transportati...

Cities can fast-track infill housing with pre-approved plans—and they should - Better Cities Project Pre-approved housing plans can reduce delays, lower costs, and accelerate infill development without subsidies or new mandates.

Cities can fast-track infill #housing with pre-approved plans—and they should better-cities.org/community-gr...

"Big events like the World Cup often amount to a city throwing itself a party. Because such ventures fall outside core functions, officials embrace any claim that prestige and tourism dollars will trickle down to basic services. Too often, they don’t."
thehill.com/opinion/cong...

Useful article by @patricktuohey.bsky.social at @thehill.com regarding Tulsa Remote, in part drawing on my research on Tulsa Remote. thehill.com/opinion/fina.... As article says, part of reason why Tulsa Remote can have success is that it is cheaper per job induced than typical business incentives.

A Conversation with Nolan Gray Podcast Episode · The Messy City Podcast · 09/09/2025 · 57m

An excellent conversation on #housing and #zoning podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

How cities can make manufactured housing safer - Better Cities Project Many mobile homes are vulnerable to floods, fires, and high winds. Municipal policy reforms in zoning, building standards, and retrofitting can make manufactured housing safer without sacrificing affo...

better-cities.org/community-gr...

What other cities can learn from Kansas City’s failed progressive experiments  thehill.com/opinion/cong...

When ‘not in my backyard’ slows housing development | Opinion Like in Kansas City's West Side and Parkville, homeowner vetoes can stop much-needed new residential construction. | Opinion

www.kansascity.com/opinion/read... #housing #nimby

Outdated building codes hold back housing development - Better Cities Project Allowing single-stair buildings could reduce construction costs by 6% to 13%, making more housing projects financially viable.

better-cities.org/community-gr... #housing #building

KC’s Kauffman Center can teach Trump, the left a lesson about arts funding | Opinion Kansas City’s beautiful performing arts center proves private money keeps the creative scene thriving without government interference. | Opinion

KC’s Kauffman Center can teach Trump, the left a lesson about arts funding
www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...

After Grants Pass: what San Francisco’s stricter encampment enforcement means for city leaders - Better Cities Project After the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling, San Francisco ramped up encampment enforcement and saw visible gains; here are five implementation lessons for municipal leaders weighing similar policies...

better-cities.org/community-gr... #moeless

Responding to PortKC’s Defenders Michael Collins, a former CEO of PortKC and the founder of Grayson Capital, which specializes in “public-private real estate development,” posted a If PortKC were serious about serving the public, its...

showmeinstitute.org/blog/state-a... #kcmo

Westside neighbors ask KC to stop construction of soccer star’s proposed six-plex They say a city board’s approval to permit the project was illegal and should be reverse.

*THIS* is NIMBYism. 'No one is against housing,' the opponents say. They just don't want it, y'know, near them. #housing
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Aldermen vote to make housing in St. Louis easier to build The legislation reduces the lot sizes required to build single-family and some two-family buildings and eases occupancy limits to make intergenerational living easier.

Aldermen vote to make #housing in St. Louis easier to build www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

The ‘Montana Miracle’ continues through housing reform passed in 2025 These reforms are promising steps toward expanding Montana’s housing supply and bringing down home prices across the state.

reason.org/commentary/t... #housing

LeBron to Luka: Inside the most delicate superstar transition in NBA history For months, publicly and privately, the Lakers have been signaling their desire to begin the Luka Doncic era in Los Angeles, even if it meant ending the LeBron James one.

Every story is a housing story.

"James has been building his forever home on a hilltop in Beverly Hills for the past five years; it reportedly took him three years just to get all the permits."

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Inclusionary housing: At what price? - Better Cities Project A new study reveals the staggering cost of incentivizing developers to build affordable units in high-income neighborhoods.

better-cities.org/community-gr... #housing

The Growth Trap: How cities sabotage themselves - Better Cities Project Cities hurt long-term growth by relying on costly incentives instead of streamlining services, reducing barriers, and trusting in their own communities.

better-cities.org/economic-pro...

Local policing reform: Three big ideas cities can tackle today Three Better Cities Project policy recommendations give local leaders tools for reforming policing -- without federal or state authorities.

better-cities.org/criminal-jus... #policing #police