Building walkable districts — connecting workspaces, residences, and essential services by foot or transit options — is becoming increasingly popular as more people seek these types of developments. While Houston is known to be a car-centric city, developers and city leaders see the opportunity to transform neighborhoods into walkable urban places. According to the 2023 Foot Traffic Ahead report, which examines the impact of walkable urbanism on U.S. real estate and metros, “the demand for walkable, well-connected real estate far exceeds supply.”  The report ranks the top 35 metropolitan areas by their walkable urbanism using an index that considers premiums in commercial rents, multifamily rental rates and for-sale home prices. Houston ranked 18th, ahead of Dallas and San Antonio, which ranked 27th and 34th, respectively. Austin ranked ahead all Texas cities, coming in at no. 14. The report also finds that walkable urbanism accounts for about 1.2 percent of the land within the 35 metro areas but generates almost 20% of the nation's gross domestic product. The concept of walkable urbanism, building high-density neighborhoods that allow people to access most daily needs by walking or using transit options has been around for years, but the interest continues to grow both in cities and suburbs. The report states Houston, along with other cities grouped in the upper-middle walkable urbanism rankings, are now moving toward building areas that are more dense, walkable, and often connected via multiple transit options after being “dominated by drivable suburban development for a half century.” Concept Neighborhood, a Houston-based development firm founded in 2020, is hoping to bring more of this development to our region. According to their website, “when done correctly and with intentionality, walkable urbanism has the potential to lower crime rates and greenhouse gas emissions while improving quality of life and community wealth in a socially equitable manner.” The company is redeveloping a mile-long stretch of properties from Harrisburg Boulevard to Buffalo Bayou East in Houston’s East End and historic Second Ward. The Plant/Second Ward project includes 250,000 square feet of retail, creative office and urban maker space in addition to 1,000 multifamily units designed for market-based, workforce housing, according to the firm’s website. The Houston Chronicle reports that Concept Neighborhood’s vision has grown to encompass 17 acres after purchasing additional land from Union Pacific Railway and other property owners. Most of the properties sit along Roberts Street near MetroRail’s Green Line. Click to expand Rendering of Concept Neighborhood's project (Credit: CultivateLAND) Houston is already home to a few walkable communities, including Rice Village and Midtown, but managing principals for Concept Neighborhood say they want to take a different approach by building around existing buildings or reimagining old buildings. “We have good examples of these larger, mixed-use projects and the urban areas that have been redeveloped are thriving,” Jeff Kaplan, co-managing principal, recently told Houston Public Media. “But what we don’t have is a connected, walkable corridor where you have a series of old buildings and new density where you can sort of stumble around and feel like it’s a real, authentic place.” Concept Neighborhood has also said it wants to develop strategies that keep current small business owners and residents in their communities. Other projects transforming the East End include Midway’s East River mixed-use development of 150 acres and Buffalo Bayou East, which will both serve as catalysts for change in the area. In 2017, the City of Houston launched the Walkable Places Committee to examine how the city could encourage more walkable development opportunities. It led to the creation of the Walkable Places and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) rules in 2020. The ordinances encourage combined commercial, office, and multifamily residential developments to create more vibrant, walkable streets that support alternative modes of transportation, and help achieve the goals of the Houston Climate Action Plan as well as other initiatives.  While Houston looks for ways to improve mobility options and create a more equitable, walkable city, the 2023 Foot Traffic Ahead report states stakeholders, leaders, policymakers and the community should work together to accomplish this goal which will ultimately lead to improving quality of life and economic opportunity for all.   Learn more about Houston neighborhoods and quality of life.  

HOUSTON (February 2, 2023) –The Greater Houston Partnership presented the 2023 Robert C. McNair Civic Leadership Award to philanthropic leaders the Chao family at the organization’s Annual Meeting on Thursday.  This is the first time that the award was presented not to an individual but to a family whose members exemplify the great power that lies in civic and philanthropic leadership—and have built a legacy that transcends borders.  Ting Tsung Chao, known to many as "T.T.," had a revered 60-year career in which he founded numerous successful petrochemical and materials companies across the globe—including Houston-based Westlake – formerly known as Westlake Chemical Corporation.  Born to humble beginnings in Suzhou, China, T.T. found his entrepreneurial penchant after he moved his family to Taiwan in the 1940s. Less than a decade later, T.T. co-founded the country’s first PVC business and would go on to form the China General Plastics Corporation Group, which at the time was among the top 10 companies in Taiwan and number two in the petrochemical industry. While growing his business – T.T. and his wife, Wei Fong, had three children – Dorothy, James, and Albert– all of whom play a significant part in this family’s inspiring story and are paving paths of their own.  In the mid-80s, T.T.’s business acumen pointed him towards Houston. T.T. and his sons, Albert and James, founded Westlake Chemical Corporation, which started with a modest plant in neighboring Louisiana.  Today, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Westlake operates 100 sites globally with approximately 16,000 employees, maintains a position on the Fortune 500 list and is approaching its fortieth anniversary.  “Known for both volunteerism and generous gifts that have changed the face of our city, the Chao’s show us that generational impact is a rewarding result of long-term community commitment,” said Partnership 2020 Chair Bobby Tudor in presenting the award to the Chao family.  Today, T.T.’s children are carrying on his legacy in notable fashion through continued business leadership with Westlake Corporation and philanthropy through the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, with a particular emphasis on supporting organizations working to expand health care and education.  Notable gifts from the Foundation include the establishment of the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University, in honor of their parents, T.T. and Wei Fong Chao, to highlight the importance of Asian studies at American universities.  James, the eldest son, is Chairman of Westlake’s Board of Directors. Dorothy serves as a Director of Westlake’s Board, a position she’s held for twenty years. And Albert serves as Westlake’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his and James’ leadership, Westlake continues to grow and innovate, constantly evolving to adapt to an ever-changing business climate.  Albert, and with his wife Anne, are steadfast supporters of many of Houston’s cultural and civic organizations.  “As first-generation immigrants to receive this esteemed award, we see this as a reflection of Houston’s rich multicultural society. And it provides encouragement to other business and civic leaders to do their part to contribute to the benefit and welfare of the greater community of Houston,” said Albert Chao in accepting the award. “Over the last 30 years, it has been our pleasure and honor to serve on the boards of various Houston organizations, which have been our partners in how we have tried to give back to the city we have made our home.”  Established in 2020, the McNair Award is presented by the Greater Houston Partnership annually business leaders who have made an outsized impact on our community — through civic and philanthropic leadership – honoring the lifelong legacy imparted by the award’s namesake, Bob McNair.  ###         Greater Houston Partnership  The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success. Representing more than 950 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact. Learn more at Houston.org. CONTACT: Brina Morales                                                 Senior Manager, Media Relations     bmorales@houston.org           (c) 832-287-5089             A.J. Mistretta Vice President, Communications amistretta@houston.org (c) 504-450-3516