HOUSTON – Uptown Houston, spanning roughly 500 acres at the city’s core, is undergoing major changes. The Boulevard Project is a comprehensive redevelopment plan aimed at transforming Post Oak Boulevard into a grand, well-designed thoroughfare with a lush, pedestrian-friendly streetscape. The project preserves existing automobile lanes while dramatically improving transit options to accommodate ongoing growth across the region.
Uptown serves about 200,000 daily visitors and workers and contains more than 26 million square feet of office space. It ranks among the country’s largest business districts and supports more than 180,000 residents within a three-mile radius. Yet mobility and circulation have lagged behind its rapid development. The $121.5 million Boulevard Project is one element of a three-part strategy to ease congestion and improve movement throughout the district. To discuss progress and priorities, Realty News Report interviewed John Breeding, President and CEO of the Uptown Houston District. Breeding has nearly three decades of experience with the District and has previously held planning and operations roles at Rice Center, METRO, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
Long-term growth and density
Realty News Report: Uptown is getting denser, with more high-rise residential and office buildings. Over the next 10 to 20 years, what needs to happen to address this increased growth and density?
Breeding: Uptown’s development pattern has shifted over the decades. In the 1970s and 1980s the area became a major retail hub, followed by a significant wave of office construction. Since the 1990s, residential development has led growth. In the last five years alone roughly $3 billion in new projects opened, including the first new office buildings since the early 1980s, under a million square feet of additional retail, several hotels, and about 8,000 multifamily units either recently completed or nearing completion.
This densification has also produced a healthier urban mix: office, residential, retail, restaurants, and hotels. That blend makes Uptown more attractive to residents, visitors, and business travelers. The district now draws consistent hotel occupancy, even on weekends.
The Boulevard Project explained
Realty News Report: There are major developments across Uptown, like Galleria expansion, a new Hyatt Regency, and a new BHP Billiton tower. What’s the plan for Post Oak Boulevard?
Breeding: The Boulevard Project is part of a broader effort to respond to continuing growth, densification, and traffic. Recognizing that building more highways alone won’t solve mobility, the District has prioritized bringing high-quality transit into the area. Working with TxDOT, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, METRO, and other partners, Uptown is investing in a roughly $200 million initiative that links the district to METRO’s Park & Ride network. The system will connect from I-10 and Highway 290 down toward I-610, allowing people to reach Uptown from suburbs without relying on single-occupant vehicles. That connectivity will benefit residents and employers and improve access for commuters from locations like Fairfield, Katy, and Sugar Land.
Traffic lanes and construction phasing
Realty News Report: Will South Post Oak Boulevard keep six lanes?
Breeding: Yes. The Boulevard reconstruction is being built in three phases with driveway access to properties maintained throughout. During active construction, two lanes in each direction will remain open in the work zone; non-construction zones will retain all lanes. The project schedule anticipates all six lanes will be restored by August 2018, with full project completion targeted for late 2018.
Dedicated bus lanes and station access
Realty News Report: The plan includes dedicated express bus lanes down the center. What will those buses be like, and how will riders access them?
Breeding: The first phase will use articulated buses designed to resemble light rail vehicles and outfitted with three entry doors: front, middle, and rear. These buses will stop at eight elevated platforms along the two-mile Post Oak corridor. Platforms will accommodate wheelchair access and bikes, enabling level boarding similar to light rail services. The design provides fast, efficient boarding and a more transit-oriented experience for riders.
Pedestrian and cycling improvements
Realty News Report: Will the project improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists?
Breeding: Pedestrian upgrades are among the most exciting elements. Sidewalks currently about four feet wide will be widened to 12-foot pedestrian promenades, and tree canopy will be dramatically expanded. Post Oak now has roughly 350 live oaks; the project will increase that number to over 1,000, creating a continuous green colonnade and a much more welcoming pedestrian environment.
Transit termini and connectivity
Realty News Report: Where will the express bus system terminate?
Breeding: The express service will integrate with METRO’s Park & Ride locations. A new Uptown Transit Center will link the Westpark Tollway and Southwest Freeway corridors, allowing commuters to use Park & Ride lots and transfer into Uptown. Buses will cycle through the transit center and make the short run onto The Boulevard. The build connects I-10 to US 59, with two of the four miles routed along Post Oak itself.
Schedule and progress
Realty News Report: What is the timetable for construction?
Breeding: The project is progressing swiftly and ahead of schedule. Roughly 93 percent of the right-of-way has been acquired. Contracts for the first third of construction were awarded in July 2016. Drivers can expect to use portions of the rebuilt lanes progressively, with three southbound lanes opening soon and all lanes available by November of that year. Recently, the District awarded about $60 million in contracts to extend work from San Felipe to Richmond.
Final thoughts
Realty News Report: Anything else to add?
Breeding: Transit is the catalyst for change, but the overall context of Post Oak Boulevard is equally important. Pedestrian improvements and the new streetscape are central to creating a more inviting urban core. By combining mobility upgrades with a thoughtful public realm, the Boulevard Project aims to define the heart of Uptown Houston as a vibrant, accessible destination for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
March 5, 2017 Realty News Report Copyright 2017