Return to Archives Home

By Bobby Vasquez

When Public Works & Engineering Director Mike Marcotte leaves his home, he can walk a block to get his dry cleaning; go across the street and eat at one of Houston’s finest restaurants; or walk less than 10 blocks to get to his office.

“When we returned to Houston, we were amazed with how downtown had grown. Before we moved to Dallas 15 years ago, this kind of downtown life wasn’t possible,” he said.

Marcotte is right. In 2004, he returned to Houston after living in Dallas and Arlington, Va. In the time he spent away from Houston, public and private partnerships resulted in a vibrant, flourishing downtown district.

Dead downtown
A little more than 10 years ago, downtown had skyscrapers. It also had a struggling economy and a lack of family-friendly activities. Aside from a couple of high rises, housing options were also limited.

“When the business day ended, the streets would roll up like a carpet and downtown was empty,” Marcotte said. “There really wasn’t much to do or places to go.”

Shoppers peruse the goods at the weekly farmer's market at Discovery Green. The market is held every Thursday afternoon. Photo by Dave Schafer

However, a decade of development and construction has lead to a rebirth, making downtown Houston’s hub for entertainment, business and homes.

“It’s neat to see the massive investments made in downtown by private businesses and government. There’s mass transit, the ballpark, theater district, and a lot of things that have made living and thriving in downtown a possibility,” Marcotte said.

Hot city
Next to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green Park has changed the landscape of the area. Through working agreements with the city, local philanthropists, company foundations, and a conservancy, more than $122 million was raised in public and private donations. The city initiated the public-private partnership to secure the site for a park, and City Council approved a contribution of 6.4 acres of land toward the project and $7.9 million toward acquisition of the remaining 5.4 acres.

“Without the coordinated efforts of the public and private sector, many of the landmark projects of the last 10 years may not have occurred,” said Dawn R. Ullrich, director of Convention & Entertainment Facilities. (See A decade of growth.)

[1][2]

Back to top