"The Revitalization of Downtown Houston" Top 5 Page for this destination Changing Times Tip by XenoHumph

Walking around downtown Houston (1 on "General tips" Houston area map) is likely to give you a dread feeling of coldness, emptyness and bleakness. Nobody around, only garage and parking lot entrances, tall skycrapers taking sometimes one block by themselves, boarded up empty shops along the streets. Houstonians are hiding in the buildings where they work, go to restaurants and shop in the tunnel and skybridge system that links one building to the other. Parts of downtown occasionally get lively when events are taking place or at times of entertainment venues (Theater District NW of Downtown, baskettball and baseball stadiums East of Downtown). It is quite a shame because there is so much potential in this part of town where the most impressive architectural achievements are to be seen!

Now, Houstonians are hoping to change this sad state of affair! The big hope is that Main street will be revitalized by the new tramway line. A real effort of renovation is being made along Main Street with nice fountains, pleasant tramway stops and slow opening of shops and restaurants at street levels. To promote this part of town, Main street becomes a pedestrian only street on Friday and Saturday evenings. There is also talk of developping the banks of Buffalo Bayou (Northern edge of downtown) in a way akin to the Riverwalk of San Antonio.
Anyway, let's keep our fingers crossed that downtown Houston one day will have a real city atmosphere with crowds and street level shops and restaurants!

othercontact: http://www.ghpa.org/