Convention District, Restaurant Row, Midtown Superblock, East Village & MORE!

Similar to preparing your home for a party or getting your home ready to put on the market; the “Bayou City/Space City/Clutch City” is getting ready for the big show! 

Convention District – The added amenities and much needed face lift to the George R. Brown Convention Center area include:

• The 29 Story Marriott Marquis will connect to the north end of the Convention Center. Some of the new hotel’s draw dropping features include a roof-top TEXAS shaped lazy river, infinity edge pool overlooking Discovery Green Park, a 35,000 square-foot event pavilion with seven event lawns, a two-story sports bar bearing the name of a Houston sports icon Craig Biggio and over 100,000 square feet of event space anchored by multiple roof top lawns. WOW!!

• A series of 10 new restaurants, to be called Avenida Houston, are set to open on the ground floor of the George R. Brown Convention Center and in the upcoming Marriot Marquis Houston in January 2017. Restaurants coming to “restaurant row” include a new concept Kulture (the latest concept from The Breakfast Klub proprietor) and Xochi (the latest concept of husband and wife team, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught). And that is just the tip of the iceberg. CLICK HERE to read Culture Map Houston’s article on the new concepts revealed this past July. 

Last week Swamplot checked up on the area’s lengthy remodel and providedthis “Super Bowl Condition” update.  To read the full master plan of the new "Convention District" CLICK HERE.  The executive summary was published by Houston First, a local government corporation formed in 2011, that also manages the George R Brown Convention Center. 

Post HTX – Houston’s former Grand Central Station and Barbara Jordan Post Office is currently being transformed into a mixed used complex to include a new private event space, plus residential, retail, office and restaurant spaces. The event center will open early next year with phase two slated for completion within the next five to eight years. CLICK HERE to read Culture Map Houston’s article on the plans for Post HTX.  

Sunset Coffee Building – According to Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s website, the revitalized and redesigned Sunset Coffee Building “will be Buffalo Bayou’s premier recreational and culture center.” The building will house a paddle craft/bike rental facility, an outdoor plaza and a rooftop terrace. CLICK HERE to read more about the Sunset Coffee Building. 

Midtown Park AKA the “Superblock” – The six acre site is currently being transformed into a mixed used facility with an urban park, retail space, 300 unit apartment complex and a public parking garage. CLICK HERE to read more about this project and other projects currently under construction in Midtown. 

EaDo’s East Village – Developers in EaDo are capitalizing on the area’s unique buildings by maintain the industrial architecture that dubbed this areas original name, the Warehouse District. East Village will create 60,000 square feet of retail and office space a few blocks from Dynamo Stadium. A comedy club and Our/Houston vodka distillery have already signed on and plan on teaming up with 8th Wonder Brewery to host street festivals and block parties. Bisnow Houston put it well when one of their columnist said “EaDo is maturing into an area of choice, not just opportunity.” CLICK HERE to read more.  

Fellow Houstonians’, there is a silver lining. We can look forward to a “more vibrant downtown Houston post Super Bowl.” Perhaps a thank you to the Super Bowl and the committee that landed it are in order?!!