“‘Fixer Upper’ is over, but Waco’s transformation is just beginning,” BuzzFeed
I always think of Waco as “wacko.” That’s what the voice on my GPS called it anytime I went south on I-35 when I was an intern living in Dallas. That’s not too far off of what most people think of Waco, the site of the deadly Branch Davidian standoff in 1993. Until now, that is. House Fixer-Uppers Chip and Joanna Gaines have re-birthed the town in their own image with the rise of their empire, Magnolia. But the new rustic farmhouse-style Waco doesn’t include everyone from the old Waco, and some people miss the old wacko Waco. — Greta Kaul, data reporter
“Small solutions for big problem: Accessory dwelling units growing in popularity, but how much can they help?” The San Francisco Chronicle
Not so long ago, accessory dwelling units (ADU) — or rental apartments that share lots with single-family homes — were the all the rage among Twin Cities urbanists. Supporters tout ADUs as a “low-profile way to add density” and house more people comfortably. This piece by the San Francisco Chronicle examines how an increase of ADUs in the Bay Area — while significant — is not an be-all-end-all solution to curb the region’s housing shortage. — Jessica Lee, local government reporter
“Everything that causes gentrification, from A to Z,” City Observatory
In this City Observatory article, Joe Cortright tries to list all of the phenomena that get blamed for causing gentrification of urban neighborhoods. The point is that while people tend to point fingers at the things that are changing cities, much of it focuses on blame rather than mitigation. Most areas of high poverty — three quarters — changed little or have lost population and gotten poorer over the last five decades. — Peter Callaghan, state government reporter
“What remains of Bear Ears,” The Washington Post
A cool look at the past and present of the Bear Ears region through drone footage, graphics and reporting on the complex politics of land use and ownership in the West. The area was made into an expansive national monument under President Barack Obama, but President Donald Trump shrank it by 85 percent. — Walker Orenstein, environment and workforce reporter
