At any given moment, there are innumerable development projects under way in Houston. From new resorts, to green communities, Downtown Promenades, and more, one thing is for sure: Houston is going to look a lot different in 10 years. Early Thursday morning, city officials announced the plans for a brand new entertainment and convention district in Houston, as one of the largest development projects in over half a century.
In coordination with Houston First Corporation, John Whitmire announced a new master plan for a walkable entertainment district would connect Downtown Houston with East End Houston, or according to a press release: a “vibrant, walkable convention and entertainment district unlike anyplace else in the nation”.
The massive new development, completely funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue in the area, will take place in phases beginning with an 700,000-square-foot expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The expansion will feature the what will be the largest ballroom in Texas that would overlook Downtown, ground-level spaces, and two massive exhibition halls in the GRB Houston South Building.
This expansion, along with a new 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza that would make it accessible to the Toyota Center. This project will act as a key hub for upcoming phases, transforming the eastern edge of downtown by integrating city cornerstones and amenities with new public spaces. The first phase would also see the expansion of Avenida Plaza, connecting the new Central Plaza to Discovery Green.
“This project is truly transformative for downtown Houston,” said Whitmire.,, “a lasting legacy that will solidify our position as top tier convention and entertainment destination”.
“Most importantly we are creating a space that will build community, foster connection, and shape the future of Houston”.
The completion of GRB Houston South is slated for May 2028, with the full campus reaching completion by 2038.