South Downtown Livable Centers Study

Summary and Goals

Many residents of communities that are proximate to the South Downtown area are experiencing rapid displacement (e.g., Third Ward, Second Ward, Fifth Ward). While South Downtown has gained approximately 4,000 new housing units in recent years, this housing has not necessarily addressed the need for housing for the workforce and low-income individuals and families. With the infrastructure and underutilized land available to foster strategic and meaningful growth, the South Downtown area has the potential to help close the gap in affordable housing in Houston’s inner core.

With an increase in residents comes the need for connectivity among area activity centers. Despite a strong multimodal foundation, pedestrian infrastructure in South Downtown lags, hindering east-west connectivity and access to adjacent neighborhoods including EaDo, Midtown, Third Ward, and Second Ward. Enhancing residents’ ability to navigate the area on foot and bicycle, as well as to access transit, will improve their access to workplaces, schools, healthcare, grocery stores, and recreational amenities. Additionally, the study will identify ways to integrate greenspaces such as Trebly Park and Discovery Green into a pedestrian and cycling network, fostering interaction and well-being for the community. The coming North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), and particularly the decommissioning of the Pierce Elevated, presents further opportunity to enhance South Downtown by way of additional greenspace, recreational facilities, or even mixed-use developments that include affordable housing options.

Overall, the South Downtown Livable Center study aims to spur affordable housing development, enhance multimodal and, in particular, pedestrian connectivity, expand green spaces, and encourage mixed-use development to create a vibrant, walkable environment that attracts residents and businesses alike. The study will also seek to leverage ongoing and upcoming planning efforts and transformational projects such as the NHHIP and phase two of the Downtown Living Initiative, launched by the Downtown Redevelopment Authority in 2012 and resulting in the tripling of Downtown’s housing stock in the intervening years.

Study Area Map

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