Our Civic Forums take place yearly to look at urban and design topics that are of particular relevance to Houston and its region. As such, Civic Forums look to provide an open forum to discuss and analyze timely topics that are affecting Houstonians, but which also have a larger national and international relevance. 

This year, we are exploring the ever-increasing influence of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) as a tool of planning governance. TIRZs are zones created by the Houston City Council to attract new investment in an area. They help finance costs of redevelopment and promote growth in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development in a timely manner. At its inception this tool was promised as the means to pull the underserved and thus underdeveloped neighborhoods to a common, higher standard of urban infrastructure.

This Civic Forum program seeks to gather stakeholders together in a workshop format to engage in a public conversation about TIRZs, their importance, their relevance, and their future.

Moderated by Troy Schaum.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Betty R. and George F. Pierce Jr., FAIA, Fund; the William B. Coleman Jr. Colloquium Fund for Architecture; and the Wm. W. Caudill Lecture Series Fund. 

Saturday, October 21, 2023

MATCH Gallery

1:00 PM until 3:00 PM

FREE with RSVP

Reception to Follow