Designing the district for eye-level
As the nation’s 4th largest city, and one of its most diverse and fastest growing, Downtown Houston has made bold moves over the last few decades to stay competitive: Building off its success as a thriving center for business, it pioneered the creation of signature downtown parks with Discovery Green, built successful entertainment districts with a downtown ballpark and theater district, and in 2012 created a downtown living initiative – diversifying its public life profile and adding resiliency to this downtown district.
Despite its many successes, in the mid-century as air conditioning became more accessible and shopping, work, and leisure more internalized within buildings, Downtown began to cede its street-level vibrancy to tunnels and skyways. Today, despite its world-class attractions and undeniable strengths, the experience of walking the streets of Downtown Houston can be uncomfortable, dull and uninviting.
Looking to make another big move to create a connected, comfortable district, Downtown Houston+ turned to Gehl to make its first Public Realm Action Plan. The crux of the plan is simple: By connecting key destinations and maximizing activation in public spaces along the way, we can draw office workers out of their buildings to street level, give visitors a whole afternoon of exploring and entertainment on foot, and cultivate a culture where you don’t have to check a calendar or count on a game — something is always happening in Downtown.
Gehl worked with stakeholders representing public and private interests in Downtown, community members, and core Downtown Houston+ staff to collaboratively develop an action-oriented plan that builds on the district’s strengths, grows the management organization’s capacities, and invests in the public spaces and streets that unite everything together.
Since the plan’s adoption, Downtown Houston+ has immediately put it into action. Most notably, they have implemented the first recommended pilot project, “Cool, Connected Corridors,” adding badly-needed shade, greenery, and pedestrian-oriented amenities on key streets — a first step in building out a public realm for people.
