
The fourth largest city in the country continues to grow. What might have been the Houston you grew up is not the same as the Houston of this generation. It’s not a surprise to say that Houston will be different in 10 years. Increased green spaces, new entertainment districts, and *checks notes* flying taxis, are all in store for the future of Space City.
1. Expansion of Buffalo Bayou
Houston’s premier green space will see a major expansion over the course of the next few years. Following a massive $100 million donation by the Kinder Foundation, officials at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership have already begun to augment the 4-mile area between US 59 and Port of Houston Turning Basin.
The project, expected to take a decade, will see the addition of new parks, trails, cultural hot spots, housing, and infrastructure improvements.
2. Astros Entertainment District
It’s hard to believe that the city’s universal adulation of the Houston Astros could be any greater. When the ‘Stros are playing, most Houston homes and sports bars are packed to the brim with eager fans. In the coming years, Astros fever will grow even more with the addition of a new entertainment much like that of Busch Stadium’s Ballpark Village.
The specific details aren’t concrete. Latest reports reveals plans for a 300-room, 17-story luxury hotel on the southeastern area outside Minute Maid Park with 60,000-square-feet of retail and dining space. Officials hope that construction will begin as soon as this year.
3. EaDo Warehouse Development

East Blocks is a project 50 years in the making. The mixed-use development aims to convert the 10-block network along Hutchins Street into a pedestrian-friendly hub of bars, restaurants, shops, office spaces, and green spaces. Presently in the first phase of its development, East Blocks has already signed on 8th Wonder Brewery and Pitch 25 as tenants.
The remainder of the first phase would transform 513,000-square-feet into mixed use space, 112,000-square-feet to offices, and 196,00-square-feet into restaurants.
Of the 10 blocks, officials aims to turn four into green spaces connecting neighboring buildings to a hiking and biking loop weaved into the Colombia hike and bike trails. Planners hope to begin construction on East Blocks in the second quarter of this year.
4-6. Resorts, Resorts, Resorts
Houston’s beachside neighbor, Galveston, is also in a period of growth. Of the slated developments to further christen Galveston as a tourist destination include a new, 300,000-square-foot Margaritaville resort. With the goal of breaking ground this spring, RREAF Holdings and Innisfree Hotels plan to include a 334-room hotel, 2.5-acre water park, direct beach access, family entertainment center, ballroom, and more.
Saint Tropez is a proposed $2 billion, lagoon-based community coming to northeast Houston. The thousand-acre development will feature a manmade lagoon built with a surf simulator, white sand beaches, water-slide tower, swim-up bar, sound stage, and more.
A Sports Illustrated Resort is also in the works. The company plans to bring a 9-story resort development to Lago Mar with 200 rooms, swim-up bar, in-pool rock climbing wall, and beachside cabanas.
7. Bullet Train from Houston to Dallas
It’s a little ironic that this article about what Houston will look like in 10 years with both the prospect of pilotless air taxis – a technology yet to be brought into existence – and trains, a form of transportation that’s been around for hundreds of years.
While there’ve been conflicting news reports on the status of a bullet train from Houston to Dallas for the past five years or so, the latest reports are that it’s back on track. Negotiations between Amtrak and Texas Central Partners have been renewed, with applications having been submitted to the appropriate parties, for the potential that the train will one day happen.
8. Greener Communities
Houston is about to see the arrival of a versatile “floating village.” Midway, a privately-owned real estate development firm known for its work on Houston’s East River and CityCentre projects, is transforming the former ConocoPhillips headquarters into the Watermark District at Woodcreek, a waterfront community.
The vision for the eco-friendly district incorporates 650,000 square feet of premium Class-A office space, upscale multi-family apartments, a mix of retailers, and diverse dining options, ranging from chef-driven restaurants to cafes and bars. Additionally, the plans feature boutique hotels and numerous other amenities to enhance the overall experience.
9. Air Taxis?
Love it or hate it, the future is here. While the city is just now adjusting to driverless vehicles, in a few short years, we could see pilotless air craft.
Wisk, a subsidiary of Boeing, specializes in electric and autonomous flight vehicles. Presently, they are developing their Generation 6 aircraft, an electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi (eVTOL) intended for passenger transportation.
In collaboration with Sugar Land officials, the company aims to introduce autonomous flying taxis to the Greater Houston Area by 2030.
10. Goal Park in East Downtown
Overseen by Goal Park Foundation non-profit, Goal Park is an innovative initiative that plans to weave culture, athletics, and nature across seven blocks along the Colombia Tap Rail of the East Downtown area.
Inspired by Atlanta’s Ponce City Market and Minneapolis’ Target Transit Plaza, while using M-K-T Trail as a precedent, planners aim to provide an interconnected system with such features as an event lawn, promenade, pickle ball courts, flexible athletic lawn, a social games plaza, and more.
As of this moment, officials have finalized the masterplan and design of Goal Park. The foundation hopes to begin construction this year while raising more funds. If all goes well, the park will debut in 2026 in time for the World Cup.
11. Sugar Land Gondolas
In addition to their bid to bring air taxis to the area, Sugar Land has partnered with Swyft Cities to incorporate WHOOSH, autonomous aerial gondolas into its transportation network. The organizations are at the time of this article preparing to conduct an engineering schematic study to assess potential station locations and routes – this study, the organizations hope to conclude by the end of 2024.
12. Main Street Promenade
Downtown Houston might be one of the few walkable places in Houston, but in a couple years it will be much more so. The Downtown Houston is investing $12 million into a new development project that would convert seven blocks between Rusk and Walker into the Main Street Promenade complete with added greenery, outdoor patios, and retailers. The group hopes to complete the project by June 2026.
13. GreenStreet
The space at 1201 Fannin St between House of Blues, Punchline Comedy Club, and The Laura Hotel will soon become a bustling, Osaka alleyway-inspired destination. GreenStreet is a project from Rebees real-estate firm. The real estate company is presently in the process of securing vendors with a focus on those that embrace Houston’s eclectic spirit. Construction is poised to being early 2025 with a slated completion date in Q3 2025.