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Dan Keshet
@dankeshet.bsky.social
· Nov 21
#atxurbanists, I've built a starter pack! Please use it to pad out your follows and invite new friends! Also LMK if you are an Austin urbanist not on here, even if urbanism isn't your main bleat area!
Josh Reyna has earned @aura-atx.org's endorsement and mine for Texas House HD49. I didn't know Josh before AURA's candidate forum but I was blown away at his exceptional commitment to housing, thorough understanding of the issue, and experience working on it at the lege.
AURA Endorsements for Texas House Reps!
mailchi.mp
January 23, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Josh Reyna has earned @aura-atx.org's endorsement and mine for Texas House HD49. I didn't know Josh before AURA's candidate forum but I was blown away at his exceptional commitment to housing, thorough understanding of the issue, and experience working on it at the lege.
I've sensed a change in journalism over the last decade: fewer real estate reporters focusing on trends in interior design, hot and cold neighborhoods, etc. More "housing and affordability" reporters focusing on housing costs: what effects them, how people are affected by them, etc.
January 22, 2026 at 3:17 PM
I've sensed a change in journalism over the last decade: fewer real estate reporters focusing on trends in interior design, hot and cold neighborhoods, etc. More "housing and affordability" reporters focusing on housing costs: what effects them, how people are affected by them, etc.
The Phoenix built-to-rent single family house / townhouse market is fascinating. (link for info, not promo)
People often conceive of it single-family houses turning from ownership into rental, but I think of it as the rental market turning from apartments to single-family houses.
People often conceive of it single-family houses turning from ownership into rental, but I think of it as the rental market turning from apartments to single-family houses.
Phoenix Rising: Inside the Revolution Reshaping Arizona's Economy & BTR Sector | Porter Kyle
Something remarkable is happening in the Valley of the Sun. Over the past year, Phoenix has swiftly become the place where America’s tech future is being built, attracting more than $210 billion in in...
www.porterkyle.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:04 PM
The Phoenix built-to-rent single family house / townhouse market is fascinating. (link for info, not promo)
People often conceive of it single-family houses turning from ownership into rental, but I think of it as the rental market turning from apartments to single-family houses.
People often conceive of it single-family houses turning from ownership into rental, but I think of it as the rental market turning from apartments to single-family houses.
Austin office market never ceases to amaze me. We have the highest vacancy rate in the country so prices are...going up? I'm guessing this is a composition effect. A bunch of new Class A office space came online, raising average asking price and vacancies
www.commercialcafe.com/blog/nationa...
www.commercialcafe.com/blog/nationa...
Vacancy Rates Begin to Slip & Construction Starts Level Off as Coworking Maintains Competitive Edge
The coworking sector grows from opportunities in the restrained construction pipeline plus more highlights and insights on industry trends in our full monthly U.S. office markets report.
www.commercialcafe.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Austin office market never ceases to amaze me. We have the highest vacancy rate in the country so prices are...going up? I'm guessing this is a composition effect. A bunch of new Class A office space came online, raising average asking price and vacancies
www.commercialcafe.com/blog/nationa...
www.commercialcafe.com/blog/nationa...
My mind was blown learning "single stair" rules produce more stairs per person
6 single-stair buildings next to each other, with 6 total stairwells between them, can populate the same footprint as a single large apartment complex that has only 2-3 stairwells connected by long smoke-filled hallways.
6 single-stair buildings next to each other, with 6 total stairwells between them, can populate the same footprint as a single large apartment complex that has only 2-3 stairwells connected by long smoke-filled hallways.
It sounds counterintuitive, but allowing buildings with just one staircase access can actually produce safer buildings.
Not to mention the tremendous effect on liveability that can come with smaller footprint buildings.
Read this excellent story!
Not to mention the tremendous effect on liveability that can come with smaller footprint buildings.
Read this excellent story!
Our piece on single stair: a crucial change that is slowly coming to Canadian cities
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
By me and @johnlorinc.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 6:43 PM
My mind was blown learning "single stair" rules produce more stairs per person
6 single-stair buildings next to each other, with 6 total stairwells between them, can populate the same footprint as a single large apartment complex that has only 2-3 stairwells connected by long smoke-filled hallways.
6 single-stair buildings next to each other, with 6 total stairwells between them, can populate the same footprint as a single large apartment complex that has only 2-3 stairwells connected by long smoke-filled hallways.
There's gotta be a middle ground between the corruption-ready, spoils-infested strong mayor setup and the "Yes, Minister" bureaucratic grind of staff outlasting electeds in the city manager setup.
January 16, 2026 at 3:25 AM
There's gotta be a middle ground between the corruption-ready, spoils-infested strong mayor setup and the "Yes, Minister" bureaucratic grind of staff outlasting electeds in the city manager setup.
I think there are qualified men and women who run for office, but along unqualified candidates,there are far more men than women. Cranks, unconnected young kids trying to get their names out there, etc. True across levels of government and geography.
Does this fit with y'all's experience?
Does this fit with y'all's experience?
January 8, 2026 at 3:23 PM
I think there are qualified men and women who run for office, but along unqualified candidates,there are far more men than women. Cranks, unconnected young kids trying to get their names out there, etc. True across levels of government and geography.
Does this fit with y'all's experience?
Does this fit with y'all's experience?
Nation's urbanists announce a new plan for municipal fiscal health: build more housing
January 8, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Nation's urbanists announce a new plan for municipal fiscal health: build more housing
Texas #politics in action. Candidates for state house give their pitch at an @aura-atx.org happy hour.
January 8, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Texas #politics in action. Candidates for state house give their pitch at an @aura-atx.org happy hour.
New housing usually isn't cheap, but building new housing is the fastest route to lowering rent for those who need it most.
A heck of a chart: in every single one of the 10 major US cities that built the most housing between 2017 and 2023, rents for older, existing units fell—often by quite a bit.
January 6, 2026 at 7:44 PM
New housing usually isn't cheap, but building new housing is the fastest route to lowering rent for those who need it most.
100% agree that lane-narrowing, speed cameras, better transit, and bike lanes are more effective traffic safety measures than "deploy robocars at scale."
David worries that robocars will make these solutions less likely to pass. People will say "why make safe streets when Waymos will make us safe?"
David worries that robocars will make these solutions less likely to pass. People will say "why make safe streets when Waymos will make us safe?"
We can even go further and assume that AVs will, eventually, reduce crashes after accounting for more driving.
It's still not clear AVs should be a top road safety priority.
Other tactics (like road diets, speed cameras, better transit, and bike lanes) are cheaper, faster and more reliable.
It's still not clear AVs should be a top road safety priority.
Other tactics (like road diets, speed cameras, better transit, and bike lanes) are cheaper, faster and more reliable.
Automated Traffic Enforcement Is More Popular Than You Think
Cameras that ticket drivers who run red lights and speed are effective and widely popular with city residents. So why are they banned in so many places?
www.bloomberg.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM
100% agree that lane-narrowing, speed cameras, better transit, and bike lanes are more effective traffic safety measures than "deploy robocars at scale."
David worries that robocars will make these solutions less likely to pass. People will say "why make safe streets when Waymos will make us safe?"
David worries that robocars will make these solutions less likely to pass. People will say "why make safe streets when Waymos will make us safe?"
🧵The conflict in Venezuela and why it proves we need to build more housing (1/113)
January 4, 2026 at 2:32 AM
🧵The conflict in Venezuela and why it proves we need to build more housing (1/113)
I'm pretty skeptical of technology for urbanism, because we already know so many low-tech solutions. But if we're doing a thread, I'm pretty bullish on using AI / data technology to improve curb management. Better pricing of parking, easier identification of underutilized curb space, etc.
ok sorry not to toot my own horn but at the UIC Urban Forum a couple years ago I was on a panel and someone asked about how AI was gonna improve cities or something and I cited realtime bus arrival info as a huge improvement to public services that didn't take AI
January 2, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I'm pretty skeptical of technology for urbanism, because we already know so many low-tech solutions. But if we're doing a thread, I'm pretty bullish on using AI / data technology to improve curb management. Better pricing of parking, easier identification of underutilized curb space, etc.
Randy Clarke left a complex legacy in Austin because project connect will be delivered smaller than he promised.
But not a day goes by that I don't miss his tenacious determination to make the impossible possible and the possible routine.
But not a day goes by that I don't miss his tenacious determination to make the impossible possible and the possible routine.
January 2, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Randy Clarke left a complex legacy in Austin because project connect will be delivered smaller than he promised.
But not a day goes by that I don't miss his tenacious determination to make the impossible possible and the possible routine.
But not a day goes by that I don't miss his tenacious determination to make the impossible possible and the possible routine.
My daughter's art school moved from a strip mall to a house in a small unincorporated neighborhood. The move saved them tons of money while greatly improving their facilities.
One underdiscussed reason for Commercial in Residential Zones is that some commercial works poorly on busy streets.
One underdiscussed reason for Commercial in Residential Zones is that some commercial works poorly on busy streets.
December 30, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My daughter's art school moved from a strip mall to a house in a small unincorporated neighborhood. The move saved them tons of money while greatly improving their facilities.
One underdiscussed reason for Commercial in Residential Zones is that some commercial works poorly on busy streets.
One underdiscussed reason for Commercial in Residential Zones is that some commercial works poorly on busy streets.
Extracting value on the front end of development (community benefits) instead of the back end (taxes) is eating the seed corn. It'll never produce as much community benefits as planting a good harvest and sowing it when it ripens.
December 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Extracting value on the front end of development (community benefits) instead of the back end (taxes) is eating the seed corn. It'll never produce as much community benefits as planting a good harvest and sowing it when it ripens.
Reposted by Dan Keshet
Solar power also continues to skyrocket in Texas, with solar generation up 25% compared to last year!
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Solar power also continues to skyrocket in Texas, with solar generation up 25% compared to last year!
Reposted by Dan Keshet
Solar power made up 9.1% of US electricity this October, up from 7.8% last year
Over the last twelve months, solar has made up 8.4% of US electricity, a record high!
Over the last twelve months, solar has made up 8.4% of US electricity, a record high!
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Solar power made up 9.1% of US electricity this October, up from 7.8% last year
Over the last twelve months, solar has made up 8.4% of US electricity, a record high!
Over the last twelve months, solar has made up 8.4% of US electricity, a record high!
Reposted by Dan Keshet
In fact, Texas has now definitively surpassed California as the largest producer of utility-scale solar in the US
California still leads in total solar due to its much larger rooftop program, but Texas has reached 68% of California's output compared to 55% in the 12 months prior
California still leads in total solar due to its much larger rooftop program, but Texas has reached 68% of California's output compared to 55% in the 12 months prior
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
In fact, Texas has now definitively surpassed California as the largest producer of utility-scale solar in the US
California still leads in total solar due to its much larger rooftop program, but Texas has reached 68% of California's output compared to 55% in the 12 months prior
California still leads in total solar due to its much larger rooftop program, but Texas has reached 68% of California's output compared to 55% in the 12 months prior
With Waymo's safety record being so far ahead of human drivers, at what point do we just ban human-driven cars from pedestrian-heavy areas as too dangerous?
Not only would it improve safety dramatically, but it would make those areas cleaner, quieter, and easier to traverse by bus, bike, or on foot
Not only would it improve safety dramatically, but it would make those areas cleaner, quieter, and easier to traverse by bus, bike, or on foot
December 28, 2025 at 3:34 AM
With Waymo's safety record being so far ahead of human drivers, at what point do we just ban human-driven cars from pedestrian-heavy areas as too dangerous?
Not only would it improve safety dramatically, but it would make those areas cleaner, quieter, and easier to traverse by bus, bike, or on foot
Not only would it improve safety dramatically, but it would make those areas cleaner, quieter, and easier to traverse by bus, bike, or on foot
Some arbitrary cutoffs are needed. 5 year olds can't sign a lease anywhere and 25s always can, but whether that cutoff is 18 or 19 is a bit arbitrary.
Parking mandates' arbitratiness, by contrast, is a cover for the fact that there's nothing behind it. Zero is always the ideal parking mandate.
Parking mandates' arbitratiness, by contrast, is a cover for the fact that there's nothing behind it. Zero is always the ideal parking mandate.
billions of dollars of land use decisions around the world made on the basis of utter nonsense
December 28, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Some arbitrary cutoffs are needed. 5 year olds can't sign a lease anywhere and 25s always can, but whether that cutoff is 18 or 19 is a bit arbitrary.
Parking mandates' arbitratiness, by contrast, is a cover for the fact that there's nothing behind it. Zero is always the ideal parking mandate.
Parking mandates' arbitratiness, by contrast, is a cover for the fact that there's nothing behind it. Zero is always the ideal parking mandate.
Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical NIMBYist Blowhards, the Highway Warriors, the Parking Worshipers, and do-nothing public engagement fetishists. We have Residential in Commercial Zoning, we have rents falling. We'll have cities that are walkable again, perhaps like never before. DJK
December 26, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical NIMBYist Blowhards, the Highway Warriors, the Parking Worshipers, and do-nothing public engagement fetishists. We have Residential in Commercial Zoning, we have rents falling. We'll have cities that are walkable again, perhaps like never before. DJK
I get a lot of information about Russia's war on Ukraine from @noelreports.com. If you're interested in the fight for the Democratic world, follow Noel.
Dear community, last time you helped us reach lots of new BlueSky followers. Now that we see that there is an exodus on X, it is important that these people can also find us on BlueSky for all necessary updates about Ukraine.
Would you like to share this message, preferably with a quote? Thanks!
Would you like to share this message, preferably with a quote? Thanks!
December 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I get a lot of information about Russia's war on Ukraine from @noelreports.com. If you're interested in the fight for the Democratic world, follow Noel.
Reposted by Dan Keshet
“Construction can’t continue”: South Texas builders say ICE arrests have upended industry www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/s...
South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have slowed work
More than 380 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
www.texastribune.org
December 25, 2025 at 5:45 AM
“Construction can’t continue”: South Texas builders say ICE arrests have upended industry www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/s...
My most neoliberal trait is a skepticism of anti-poverty policies that that narrowly target housing (both housing vouchers/affordable housing) as opposed to straight cash that people can use for anything.
Housing with wraparound services is different as the market won't provide social workers.
Housing with wraparound services is different as the market won't provide social workers.
December 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
My most neoliberal trait is a skepticism of anti-poverty policies that that narrowly target housing (both housing vouchers/affordable housing) as opposed to straight cash that people can use for anything.
Housing with wraparound services is different as the market won't provide social workers.
Housing with wraparound services is different as the market won't provide social workers.