Downtown District Launches 'Plan Downtown' To Study Next Phase Of Development

Officials with Houston Downtown Management District announced Monday the launch of a 20-year plan that will outline recommendations for planning, development and design in and around the city center. 

The project, called Plan Downtown, will offer strategies for growth in an effort to better position downtown for a competitive future, the district said in a statement.

"Thirteen years have gone by since Downtown's last comprehensive plan," Bob Eury, the district's executive director said in the Monday announcement. "We've made tremendous progress."

The project will be funded by the district and Houston First Corp. It will be different from, but relate to the principles of, the city's overall general plan adopted in 2015.

A 17-member leadership group for Plan Downtown will include representatives of the city of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with officials from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown.

The process of creating the vision will include a series of meetings and public workshops with existing and potential downtown residents, employees and visitors, elected officials, neighborhood leaders and service providers for the homeless. Meetings are expected to begin this spring with a plan expected in fall.

The final plan will be a "roadmap that identifies stakeholders areas of responsibility, designates a phasing strategy and pinpoints funding opportunities for projects and concepts," the district said.

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"Having a thriving core is critical to Houston's success and Downtown continues to be the heartbeat of the region in many ways — culturally, economically and even in terms of our civic institutions — and it's a vital part of what makes Houston such a dynamic place," Pat Walsh, director of planning & development for the city of Houston, said in a statement.

Some of the topics to be addressed include:

•             Attractions, hospitality and culture

•             Economic potential

•             Innovation and education

•             Infrastructure, mobility and transportation

•             Livability, connectivity and public space

•             Social equity

•             Technology

•             Urban planning, development and design

Asakura Robinson — a planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm with offices in Houston — will draft the plan, along with consultants from Sasaki, Traffic Engineers Inc. and HR&A Advisors,

The Downtown District was formed in 1995 to revitalize the urban core. Officials have used public funds and private resources on area improvements focusing on the city blocks bordered by Interstate 10, Highway 59 and Interstate 45. It is operated under the leadership of a 30-person board, and funding comes from an assessment on downtown property owners

Source:  By Nancy Sarnoff Chron.com

In 2004, city officials forged a comprehensive plan to transform Houston's central business district. Now, 13 years later, city officials will come together once again to decide the next phase of Downtown's metamorphosis. “We’ve made tremendous progress [since the last comprehensive plan],” said Bob Eury, executive director of the Downtown District. "A few of the success stories include: a major opportunity for green space, which was realized with Discovery Green; greater neighborhood connectivity to the George R. Brown Convention [Center], which recently coalesced as Avenida Houston; and more residential, which we accomplished with the Downtown Living Initiative.” The 17-member leadership group that will form the new plan is composed of representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with representatives from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown. Asakura Robinson has been selected to draft Plan Downtown with a consultant team that includes Sasaki, Traffic Engineers Inc. and HR&A Advisors.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/economy/downtown-district-launches-plan-downtown-to-study-next-phase-of-development-71539?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Downtown District Launches 'Plan Downtown' To Study Next Phase Of Development Flickr: Eflon Downtown Houston skyline at night In 2004, city officials forged a comprehensive plan to transform Houston's central business district. Now, 13 years later, city officials will come together once again to decide the next phase of Downtown's metamorphosis. “We’ve made tremendous progress [since the last comprehensive plan],” said Bob Eury, executive director of the Downtown District. "A few of the success stories include: a major opportunity for green space, which was realized with Discovery Green; greater neighborhood connectivity to the George R. Brown Convention [Center], which recently coalesced as Avenida Houston; and more residential, which we accomplished with the Downtown Living Initiative.” The 17-member leadership group that will form the new plan is composed of representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with representatives from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown. Asakura Robinson has been selected to draft Plan Downtown with a consultant team that includes Sasaki, Traffic Engineers Inc. and HR&A Advisors. Houston Skyline Courtesy of TCR Downtown Houston skyline Plan Downtown, which will be presented in late fall of this year, will examine how Downtown can leverage a changing role to grow its economic competitiveness. To that end, the study will investigate interrelated topics including: Attractions, hospitality and culture Economic potential Innovation and education Infrastructure, mobility and transportation Livability, connectivity and public space Social equity Technology Urban planning, development and design

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/economy/downtown-district-launches-plan-downtown-to-study-next-phase-of-development-71539?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Downtown District Launches 'Plan Downtown' To Study Next Phase Of Development Flickr: Eflon Downtown Houston skyline at night In 2004, city officials forged a comprehensive plan to transform Houston's central business district. Now, 13 years later, city officials will come together once again to decide the next phase of Downtown's metamorphosis. “We’ve made tremendous progress [since the last comprehensive plan],” said Bob Eury, executive director of the Downtown District. "A few of the success stories include: a major opportunity for green space, which was realized with Discovery Green; greater neighborhood connectivity to the George R. Brown Convention [Center], which recently coalesced as Avenida Houston; and more residential, which we accomplished with the Downtown Living Initiative.” The 17-member leadership group that will form the new plan is composed of representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with representatives from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown. Asakura Robinson has been selected to draft Plan Downtown with a consultant team that includes Sasaki, Traffic Engineers Inc. and HR&A Advisors. Houston Skyline Courtesy of TCR Downtown Houston skyline Plan Downtown, which will be presented in late fall of this year, will examine how Downtown can leverage a changing role to grow its economic competitiveness. To that end, the study will investigate interrelated topics including: Attractions, hospitality and culture Economic potential Innovation and education Infrastructure, mobility and transportation Livability, connectivity and public space Social equity Technology Urban planning, development and design

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/economy/downtown-district-launches-plan-downtown-to-study-next-phase-of-development-71539?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser