Downtown Houston Releases 20-Year Vision Plan

"Plan Downtown should be considered a framework for our collective actions over the next 20 years," said Bob Eury, Executive Director of the Downtown District. "The Plan's recommendations challenge us to continue — and even accelerate — Downtown's current development, and to capitalize on the opportunities and address the challenges of the future."

Plan Downtown is broken down into four pillars: Downtown is Houston's greatest place to be; Downtown is the premier business and government location; Downtown is the standard for urban livability; and Downtown is the innovative leader in connectivity. The Plan considers these interdependent goals in nearly 150 recommendations, ranging from big-picture ideas to small, localized upgrades that would subtly improve the quality of urban life.

The Plan's strategic recommendations include:

• Creating a Green Loop, a 5-mile transportation and recreation circuit that connects Downtown to adjacent neighborhoods.
• Enhancing walkability of Downtown through the development of Downtown Design Guidelines and the addition of new destinations.
• Establishing an Innovation District as the center for technology and entrepreneurship in the Houston region by strengthening connections between businesses/funders and entrepreneurs and pursuing partnerships with area universities.
• Building 12,000 additional Downtown residential units to support population growth from 7,500 to 30,000 over the next 20 years, and enhance the area amenities available to current and future residents.
• Adapting to autonomous vehicles by positioning Downtown to benefit from new technologies.

With funding from the Downtown District, Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3 and Houston First Corporation, Asakura Robinson led the Plan Downtown effort with consultants Sasaki, Traffic Engineers, Inc. (TEI) and HR&A Advisors. In addition to a core leadership team that included representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, Downtown District, Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with representatives from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown Management Districts, the consultants tapped a larger 166-member steering committee of elected officials, community leaders and area residents to provide input to frame plan recommendations.

Project representatives engaged stakeholders in a series of topic-focused meetings, public workshops, online surveys and text campaigns. Eighteen months of public input and expert analysis led to a detailed and adaptable roadmap that identifies stakeholders' areas of responsibility, designates a phasing strategy and pinpoints funding opportunities for projects and concepts. Findings relate to the core principals of Plan Houston, the city's first General Plan, adopted by Houston City Council in the fall of 2015.

The final plan is available for download at downtowndistrict.org. Media can access the digital press kit by visiting bit.ly/plandowntownhou. 

ABOUT DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
The Downtown District was formed in 1995 for the purpose of revitalizing the urban core of the country's fourth largest city. Over the past decade, the Downtown District has used a combination of public funds and private resources to catalyze area improvements focusing on the city blocks bordered by Interstate 10, Highway 59 and Interstate 45.

The Downtown District operates under the leadership of a 30-person board of directors who oversee the implementation of the District's strategic initiatives. Funding for the Downtown District comes from a special assessment on all downtown property owners.

For more information visit downtowndistrict.org or downtownhouston.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Angie Bertinot / Downtown District
[email protected] / 713-650-3022

Whitney Radley / The CKP Group
[email protected] / 832-930-4065 x 106

SOURCE The Houston Downtown Management District

Related Links

http://www.downtowndistrict.org