Houston's Focus On Planning Gets Noticed

A Super Bowl visitor to Houston writes that although the city's reputation for visual blight is deserved, the city is catching on to good city building.

February 9, 2004, 5am PST | Chris Steins | @urbaninsight

"Most encouraging is Houston's belated attention to the small and seemingly insignificant sidewalk-level amenities that are so important to urban vitality... Market Square, Courthouse Square and along Main Street. Here dozens of historic two- to four-story brick structures have been reclaimed as restaurants, clubs, loft apartments and condominiums, and these formed the heart of Houston's raucous Main Event street party of the last week. Houston threw a New Orleans-quality street bash for several days, and it would not have been possible had not all those historic structures been brought back to life."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Full Story:

It paid to sweat the small stuff

Published on Sunday, February 8, 2004 in The Houston Chronicle