The Key Question for a New Innovation District in Houston: Location, Location, Location

A forthcoming opportunity for Houston offers a chance to consider the ingredients for a successful innovation district, and what level of intervention, public and private, is required to make the concept succeed.

1 minute read

July 12, 2017, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Herrin Lofts

The Herrin Lofts, an adaptive reuse of the former Herrin Moving and Storage Building, is located in East Downtown (EaDo) Houston. | Patrick Feller / Flickr

"Two [Houston] task forces, one put together by city government, the other by the business community, recommended that the city designated a tech district, which could increase property values in the chosen neighborhood and boost the standing of politicians who help secure that designation," reports Lydia DePillis.

DePillis explains the rationale behind innovation districts, as promoted by think tanks like the Brookings Institution and civic boosters like Tony Hsieh of Zappos and Las Vegas fame, before digging into the "jockeying" for position in the race to locate Houston's new innovation district. Among the neighborhoods with advocates in their corner: EaDo, Montrose, and Rice Village. 

Monday, July 10, 2017 in Houston Chronicle

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