HOUSTON — There’s a big change coming to downtown Houston, one designed to make it more of a destination in time for the eyes of the world to be on the city.
Downtown Houston+ is teaming up with the City of Houston to permanently turn a stretch of Main Street into a pedestrian promenade with restaurants and bars along the walkway. It should be completed before the FIFA World Cup matches are played at NRG Stadium. Houston is hosting seven World Cup matches that will run from June 14 through July 4.
The original idea for the Main Street Promenade came up during the pandemic to support local businesses downtown. Houston City Council unanimously voted to make the permanent conversion on Main Street from Commerce To Rusk in March 2023.
The final Main Street Promenade will add four more blocks to the south, making it 11 blocks in total from Dallas Street to Allen’s Landing.
Right now, Downtown Houston+ is in the final design and engineering phase of the project. That will last through early 2025. Then construction will be in 2025 and 2026.
Some businesses located off of Main Street said they hope the promenade plan brings more customers through their doors.
Pinpinat Lomwattanatham is the manager of Sparkle Cleaners located in the downtown tunnels near Main and McKinney streets. She said her business is still reeling from the impacts of the COVID pandemic, adding that sales are still slow.
"Even now, it’s after COVID for a couple years already, but we don’t even get half of it back," Lomwattanatham said.
She said she wants the Main Street Promenade to increase foot traffic in the area and bring more customers through her doors.
“It would be lovely, and also if that project can help people encourage them to come and acknowledge them to know that we have downtown tunnel here," Lomwattanatham said.
Also on Main Street near Texas Avenue, the restaurant Little New Orleans is hoping to benefit from the pedestrian project. Manager Dionne Louis said the eatery opened in June 2022, and while business has been steady, she wants more Houstonians and out-of-towners to help local businesses like hers.
“They’re in Chipotle eating and they look over here and they be like, ‘Oh, there’s where Little New Orleans is.’ So I hope with that expansion or redevelopment, it will bring the crowds and drives more families, visitors, tourists," Louis said.
Questions and answers about the Main Street Promenade
We wanted to know more about the project so below are questions reporter Orko Manna asked Downtown Houston+ along with their answers.
What are the exact details of the Main Street Promenade project? What exactly is being installed and added to Main Street?
Initially conceived to support local bars and restaurants during the early pandemic days, Houston City Council unanimously voted to permanently convert seven blocks of Main Street from Commerce to Rusk into a pedestrian promenade in March 2023, the next iteration of this project, aptly named “More Space: Main Street 2.0.” The final "Main Street Promenade" will incorporate four additional blocks to the south (but no additional roadway closures), bringing it to span a total of 11 blocks, from Dallas Street to Allen’s Landing. This includes raising the roadway to improve accessibility for all, a new maintenance structure where Downtown Houston+ will maintain and care for the promenade much like we do today with Market Square Park and Trebly Park, and the increase of shade through new shade structures and 150% more trees.
What is the overall goal of the Main Street Promenade?
The project’s objectives are multifaceted, aiming to attract more visitors to the Downtown area, activate the public realm throughout the day and night, enhance mobility, ensure safety, and establish a vibrant identity for this stretch of Main Street.
Who is funding the project? And how much will it cost?
The capital project funding agencies of Downtown Houston+ is $10 million, construction only. Other costs incurred for planning and engineering. The project is being funded by the capital project funding agencies of Downtown Houston+.
How likely is it that you will meet the timeline to have the project completed before the 2026 World Cup games?
The project is on schedule. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority, along with our team of engineers and designers have been very intentional about bringing partners along throughout the process to mitigate possible roadblocks in the process.
What is the timeline for the project? What stage is the project right now, and when will construction begin? When can we expect to see construction crews at work?
Twelve-month construction timeline. We are wrapping up the design and engineering phase now and actively submitting for permitting. Construction will begin in May 2025, and last through May 2026. This project has been in the works since early 2023 with a stakeholder-informed engagement process conducted to establish a basis of design that has informed the design development to date.
Will construction have an impact on the existing businesses in the area?
Businesses should expect to see construction concentrated between Commerce and Rusk Street. Construction will take place in increments of a couple of blocks at a time each lasting a couple of months. Access will always be maintained to the adjacent businesses and properties. Through the bidding process, we are planning to bring on a person who will be the designated point of contact for businesses and property owners and focus on communicating impacts and schedules. We have already started our support for businesses through our retail thrive grants.