HOUSTON – The Downtown Redevelopment Authority has issued a request for landscape design consultants to create a plan for the new Southern Downtown Park. The proposed park will occupy three-quarters of a city block bounded by Bell, San Jacinto, Leeland and Fannin streets.
The site, long used by Goodyear Tire, is slated for transformation into public open space, with construction expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.
Bob Eury, president of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, says the demand for parks has grown alongside the success of the Downtown Living Initiative, which offered tax incentives to encourage multifamily development in the area.
Since 2012, Southern Downtown has added more than 1,500 residential units as a direct result of the Downtown Living Initiative. The Authority’s long-term strategy is to work with the Downtown District, the City of Houston and other partners to deliver projects that strengthen the neighborhood’s identity through improved streetscapes, active street frontages and expanded green space.
The Southern Downtown Park aligns with a primary recommendation from Plan Downtown, a 20-year vision for downtown Houston released in November 2017. That plan emphasizes creating open spaces that anchor new development clusters, form memorable landmarks, support adjacent uses and encourage increased activity in the area.
Oct. 3, 2018 Realty News Report. Copyright 2018.