Off New Era: Downtown Main Street Kicks

In Houston, How Soccer changed Downtown Houston. That may be a footnote someday when a historian writes about what happened on Main Street in 2026.

The future historian would be writing about Houston’s new Main Street Promenade and the international soccer tournament that brought thousands of tourists and sports fans to the nation’s fourth-largest city.

The newly completed Main Street Promenade transformed a stretch of Main Street into a lively walkway lined with historic buildings and shaded spaces, just in time to welcome soccer fans to Houston for FIFA World Cup in June. Now, updates to the exteriors of three more buildings along the Promenade are on the way, as stated by downtown officials.

The seven-block Promenade project, stretching from Commerce Street near Allen’s Landing southward to Rusk, wrapped up in May 2026 after a year of construction. The $17 million project repurposed the roadway to create a landscaped, car-free walkway with patio cafes, public art, shade structures, and nearly 100 new trees. The METRORail line runs down the middle of Main Street, separated from the walkway by low fencing and landscaping. “Main Street” is rendered in oversized blue and white mosaic tile on a portion of the path.

The result of years of planning, the Promenade’s origins go back to 2021 when the City of Houston, in partnership with Downtown Houston+, created More Space: Main Street as a temporary way to support businesses during COVID-19. Part of Main Street was closed to traffic to boost business by creating new outdoor dining spaces.

Houston’s selection in 2022 as one of 11 U.S. cities to host the 2026 World Cup provided the impetus to complete permanent changes that are envisioned to energize Main Street. The international soccer tournament is taking place in Houston from June 14 through July 4.

“This project started before we were awarded the World Cup, and Houston is meeting this moment the right way—by investing in the future and delivering the improvements Houstonians deserve to enjoy every day,” Mayor John Whitmire said in a press release announcing the completion of more than 200 projects in advance of the World Cup. “I want to thank everyone who helped make this project possible, from the CEOs to the craftsmen who brought it to life. The World Cup gave us a deadline to move hundreds of public improvement projects across the goal line, but the real payoff is for Houstonians. From safer sidewalks and brighter streets to improved parks, drainage, and transit access, these investments will benefit residents long after the tournament ends.”

The projects, totaling nearly $500 million in investments, included 400 lane miles of streets resurfaced, $100 million in drainage improvements, $84 million for sidewalks, 7,000 new trees, and more, as stated by the city.

The Downtown Houston+ organization led the Main Street transformation project, which was funded in part by the Downtown Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ #3.

“There’s nothing like having the pressure of a worldwide audience to push creative ideas forward and get them finished,” said Kris Larson, President and CEO of Downtown Houston+. “But what makes the hard work most worthwhile is when it is not just for an event, but for everyone’s enjoyment for years to come.”

More improvements are coming to Main Street’s new pedestrian friendly corridor. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority board recently approved three facade grants to contribute toward work on three historic buildings.

The Moxy Hotel by Marriott, 412 Main Street, will undergo improvements to windows and the facade’s uplighting to highlight the building’s historical features. Developed in 1923 as the State National Bank Building, the property was converted into a 118-room hotel in 2023.

In the 300 block of Main Street, the building that houses Notsuoh and Dean’s is slated for upgrades to its iconic signage. Restorations to the Clarks, Home of Easy Credit, and Dean’s signs would use LED lighting that has a similar look of the original neon signs.

The Scanlan building, an 11-story office building at 405 Main, is being redeveloped as a Canopy by Hilton hotel by SLTX Capital. The grant will go toward major exterior restorations that are part of a broader rehabilitation of the property.