Central Houston, Inc., its subsidiary Central Houston Civic Improvement, and the Houston Downtown Management District are focused on the revitalization of Main Street as a great street. Central Houston and the District have worked to create the Main Street Market Square Redevelopment Authority and the Market Square Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to assist financing of key projects. They have coordinated multiple designs for the street now incorporating light rail transit. Central Houston is a key stakeholder in the Main Street Coalition and planning for the 7.5-mile corridor from downtown to Reliant Park. The organization is now addressing the reinstitution of retail on Main at the heart of downtown.

Main Street Square

Main Street Square, Houston's downtown pedestrian plaza, boasts innovative architecture and a design built around two light rail stations in the 900 and 1100 blocks of Main Street.  Dramatic water fountains, unique landscaping, shopping, dining and art transform the location into an active town square.  The car-free space opened January 1, 2004, the same time as Metro's light rail system. 

Main Street Square is an $8.9 million project.  The Main Street/Market Square Redevelopment Authority funded $1.5 million, adjacent private owners funded $1.0 million of improvements on private property which connects to the Square, and $6.4 million is being raised through private philanthropy. The commitments have come from a broad base of corporations and foundations.

Main Street Square opened on New Year's Day.  More information can be found at the following links: official information, Houston Chronicle article January 2, 2004.

ULI/Main Street Economic Corridor

Can Main Street become an attractive, exciting urban heart for Houston?

In recent years, our community has been pursuing ambitious plans and public investments to transform the Main Street Corridor.  The City of Houston and the Main Street Coalition have sponsored an exciting master plan, and METRO is investing in both bus and light rail transit improvements.  The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a national organization whose membership promotes responsible land use development.  ULI Houston recognizes the potential that has emerged from these visionary efforts, and through a broad-based group of volunteers from the public, development, design and planning sectors, plus representatives of affected communities, a proposal has been prepared to help ensure that these plans and public investments are matched by high quality development and preservation of unique, existing neighborhoods. 

The reports and proposals detailing this initiative are available on the city of Houston'a Planning and Development site for the Main Street Revitalization Project under Tools and Techniques.