FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angie Bertinot
Downtown District
(713) 650-6022 angie@downtowndistrict.org
FOR
HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 12, 2014) – Whether you’re a long-time resident or visiting the Bayou City for the first time, there’s no questioning Houston is experiencing an incredible burst of development,
particularly within its Downtown core. Today, more than $1.39 billion in new Downtown construction
projects are underway and another $2.58 billion in pre-development/design—nearly one-third of these projects being residential developments. Additionally, Houston continues to welcome waves of new businesses relocating offices to its central business district and with that, urban professionals also will see an additional 2.86 million square feet of office space being constructed, as well as eight new,
modern and luxurious hotel high-rises dotting the city’s skyline. And who can overlook the success of two of Houston’s most beloved urban parks: Discovery Green and Market Square Park – both of which have been heavily credited for being the economic catalyst for growth in the east and northern end of
Downtown Houston, respectively. With all of this robust activity, combined with its strong economy, a growing urban population, and solidified status as being one of the nation’s top culinary and entertainment destinations, it’s easy to see how Houston has transformed itself into the global city that it is today.
Residential Developments
What’s happening in Downtown Houston over the next five years is arguably the greatest shift to its urban core since the city began its renewal back in the mid 1990’s. This change can be attributed to the city’s focus on growing its Downtown residential population. Currently, there are approximately
3,600 residents within the Downtown District’s boundaries (and 55,000 within greater Downtown) but with the success of the city’s Downtown Living Initiative – a program which awards $15,000 per unit in tax rebates to developers who create homes or multifamily projects – that number will triple over the next few years. As of May 2014, the Downtown District reports a total of 12 residential projects that are under construction or in the planning to date. Projects under construction include:

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SkyHouse Houston – a 24-story, 336-unit high-rise opening in July with ground floor retail
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500 Crawford – a seven-story, 397-units with retail on the ground level
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Block 334 – a five-story, 207 unit residential building
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1111 Rusk (old Texaco Building) – a 323-unit residential building (restoration)
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Eight multifamily residential developments are also planned along the south and northeast end of Downtown. Planned projects also include Hines Market Square (33-story, 463-units) and
Market Square Tower (40-story, 463-units) in Downtown’s Historic District.
Office Space and Leasing Activity
Downtown Houston is a dynamic business community with a workforce of approximately
150,000 employees, ten of Houston’s 26 Fortune 500 companies and 44 million square feet of office space. Powerhouses such as Chevron, Shell, JPMorgan, Waste Management, TOTAL, and creative minds such as Gensler and Page/ are just a few that call Downtown home. For companies looking to do business in Downtown Houston, many will find modern, sustainable office spaces that provide a central location, convenient access to major highways, mass transportation options and proximity to nearby destinations such as sports and theater venues and the Houston Medical Center. Over the next few years, Downtown could potentially add up to eight new office buildings to its portfolio totaling close
to 8 million square feet. Projects underway include:
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609 Main – 41-story, 1.057 million-square-foot office tower
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1111 Travis – 21-story, 500,000-square-foot office tower
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6 Houston Center – 30-story, 600,000-square-foot office tower
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Capitol Tower – 35-story, 700,000-square-foot office tower
Hotel Development
Hotel room numbers plummeted in Downtown Houston in the late 1990s but demand gradually increased, and hoteliers and investors responded. Since 2001, over 3,300 new hotel rooms have been added and today, eight new hotels are slated for Downtown that will add an additional 2,461 rooms taking downtown’s hotel room count to more than 7,700 in 24 hotels by late 2016, just in time for
Super Bowl LI.
Downtown offers variety in hotel options including large convention hotels such as Hilton
Americas- Houston, which is connected to the southern end of the George R. Brown Convention Center
(GRBCC) and the Marriott Marquis which is under construction and located at the northern end of
GRBCC. Luxurious service is available at the Four Seasons, recently purchased by Bill Gates’ Cascade
Investment LLC, JW Marriott which will open on Main Street in September of this year and the newly

announced Hotel Alessandra at GreenStreet, slated to break ground this summer, will take luxury in
Downtown to new heights. There are also beautiful historic options with Hotel Icon, The Sam Houston
Hotel, The Lancaster Hotel and Magnolia Hotel.
Convention Services
In addition to the second convention hotel, the area surrounding the George R. Brown
Convention Center will be transformed into a more pedestrian-friendly, walkable, mixed-use
neighborhood. Playing off the uber-successful Discovery Green, there will be less traffic, more retail and new landscaping, canopies and flexible plaza areas. A 1,900-car parking garage with office space is also part of the master plan as is the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, a 60,000-square-foot destination visitors center.
Activating the streets with residents, downtown workers, conventioneers and visitors attracted by shops, restaurants and entertainment venues will create a vibrant convention district that appeals
to meeting planners and exhibitors.
Food, Drink and Leisure
It’s no secret that Houston has developed a solid reputation for having one of the best culinary
and entertainment scenes in the U.S. and the city continues to add to its repertoire of fun and tasty offerings. Downtown’s historic neighborhood located on the northern end is quickly becoming a favorite among award-winning chefs and entrepreneurs. Today, the area’s time-honored buildings that surround
Market Square Park are now home to places such as OKRA Charity Saloon, a unique nonprofit bar concept that donates all of its profits each month to a local charity organization (based on the votes of its patrons); Goro & Gun, a Japanese izakaya bar whose kitchen also doubles as a lab for G&G Syrup; and
Batanga Tapas + Drinks, a Latin-infused tapas bar that has gained a loyal following for its grand outdoor patio. Also injecting another layer of flavor to the neighborhood is The Pastry War – a Mezcaleria serving up agave spirits by James Beard nominee Bobby Huegel – and the new Public Services Wine &
Whiskey Bar opening this summer by one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2014 and owner of critically acclaimed Oxheart, Justin Yu.
GreenStreet, conveniently located with easy access to Discovery Green and its neighboring attractions, is a mixed-use 570,000-square-foot property that features three city blocks of premier
shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. Houston-based, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm Midway, in conjunction with Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds, is redeveloping GreenStreet to include the addition of several new tenants and a dynamic green space dubbed “The Lawn” to support onsite event programming. Other refreshments to the property include

new mid-block pedestrian crossings, water features, outdoor patios, canopies topped with greenery and updated wayfinding signage and lighting, leading to an overall enhanced visitor experience.
One of Houston’s most iconic green spaces, Buffalo Bayou Park, is currently experiencing a major transformation as well. Located on the northwest end of Downtown Houston, the lush greenbelt and wide waterway provides park visitors with an ideal location for canoeing and kayaking, disc golf and
some of the best multi-elevation trails for the avid runner and cyclist. The $58 million revitalization project includes new and upgraded features such as wider trails along the bayou, three pedestrian bridges, restoration of the natural landscape, additional park benches, picnic spots, water features and an enclosed dog park. Additionally, unique and innovative lighting has allowed Buffalo Bayou to remain a safe place to stay active, even after the sun goes down.
Looking across the Downtown landscape these days, there’s an endless state of activity – from construction fencing going up around projects to a pyramid steel frames, scaffolding and building crews stretching across the Houston skyline. If you would like more information on the boom of Downtown
Houston, or to learn more about current and future development plans, visit http://www.downtownhouston.org/resources/ .
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