Gregg Logan draws a crowd

Houston Tomorrow luncheon

Vilas Bhuchar, May 09, 11.

Metropolitan regions are composed of a hierarchy of Cores, or “centers” that contain 30% to 40% of jobs, including the highest paying ones, according to Gregg Logan, Managing Director of RCLCO, speaking at a Houston Tomorrow Distinguished Speaker event. Logan discussed his work on Metro Cores: Sustaining and Creating the Places Where Jobs Grow (PDF)

The number, quality, and characteristics of cores in a region influence job growth generally, Logan said. The trick is anticipate where Cores are needed, facilitate (re)development, and ensure predictability: knowing the reasons they grow in specific locations and planning for it. To sustain growth, it’s essential to provide the features, amenities, and infrastructure required.

One of the keys is to increase density in cores. Car access, Logan says, is limited by the number of intersections and ultimately by the ability to park. As density increases, you have to increase connectivity, which usually means adding modes of travel, such as transit, biking, and walking.

Logan also noted that there need to be public policies for residential development in these urban zones, and said school quality is important to encourage such growth.

Following a concept of “centers and cores” for regional development is the most efficient mode for solving the complex issues of large metropolitan regions. Logan cites the example of Bell South, in Atlanta. The company relocated its offices to several transit stations to give employees new choices for travel and lifestyle.

The event was the first of two 2011 Distinguished Speaker luncheons. It was held at the Westin Galleria’s Monarch Room on Wednesday, May 4th and drew close to 85 attendees.

The luncheon included a question and answer session, which had the Greenspoint District’s Jack Drake questioning how Houston could fare so low in the amount of venture capital that local technology companies are able to raise. H-GAC’s Jeff Taebel responded by saying he believes that many of Houston’s large companies are big enough to fund their own projects - thus, eliminating the need for outside capital.

The next Distinguished Speaker luncheon is tentatively planned for September or October of 2011. Stay tuned to www.houstontomorrow.org for more details and for video of Logan’s presentation, which will be posted shortly.

Last week’s event was made possible by the generous support of the following organizations:

Major Funder - The Anchorage Foundation of Texas
Event Sponsor - Greenspoint District
Table Sponsor - CenterPoint Energy
Table Sponsor - Westchase District
Table Sponsor - TREK