Houston’s Greater Northside is home to a lot of gems, including Instagram-worthy scenes, diverse cuisine, historic neighborhoods, parks and trails and the iconic Houston Farmers Market. The Partnership recently spent the day with the Greater Northside Management District to explore what their area has to offer.  "We are Houston at the core" The district focuses on promoting economic development, improving the quality of life for commercial and residential property owners and creating opportunities for new development. It encompasses more than 24 square miles north of downtown Houston. The vastness of the district means it serves a diverse population. From historic neighborhoods like Lindale Park and Woodland Heights to emerging ones like Hardy Yards, the district offers something for everyone.  “We are Houston at the core. Reflecting the diversity of the city,” said Rebecca Reyna, Executive Director of GNMD.  Certain neighborhoods on the south side of the district are considered some of the oldest in Houston, established in the 1880sand settled primarily by immigrants from central and southern Europe. Today, you’ll find a mostly Hispanic population, which is once again transforming as more people move into the district. Reyna said character and prime location are what draw people to the area. “I’ve noticed people moving here want to keep the character and they’re getting involved in their community,” she said. The district is easily accessible via the Hardy Toll Road, Loop 610, I-45, I-10 and I-69, allowing drivers to get to most parts of the city within roughly 20 minutes. The METRORail Red Line also provides service to the district and there are more than 10 Bcycle stations in the area. The district is covered with public art murals, many designed by Houston artists, including Gelson Lemus, better known as W3r3on3.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by W3r3on3 insomniaks krew (@w3r3on3)   The Business Community and Projects on the Horizon The GNMD is home to more than 10,000 businesses, more than 5,000 commercial, retail and industrial properties and more than 150 restaurants. Conceptual rendering of Meow Wolf at former Moncrief Lenoir buildings. (Courtesy: The Deal Company/E-Studio Group) Conceptual rendering of courtyard at Moncrief Lenoir buildings (Courtesy: The Deal Company/E-Studio Group)                 Conceptual rendering of Moncrief Lenoir buildings. (Courtesy: The Deal Company/E-Studio Group) Conceptual rendering of media venue at Moncrief Lenoir buildings. (Courtesy: The Deal Company/E-Studio Group) Reyna said there are many exciting developments underway or on the horizon, including the redevelopment of the historic Moncrief Lenoir Manufacturing Company buildings across the street from Saint Arnold Brewing Company. According to developer DealCo, Meow Wolf will be the anchor tenant of the 120,000-square-foot mixed-use space, offering restaurants, event space, artist studios and galleries, creative workspace, loft offices and more. Meow Wolf, an immersive art experience, is expected to open its Houston “portal” in 2024. A 10-acre tract of land in Hardy Yards, owned by the city, will be developed into affordable single-family homes with commercial and multi-family housing along North Main Street. Reyna is also excited about a $6 million project to reconstruct Quitman Street from Houston Avenue to Elysian Street to add sidewalks, lighting, bike lanes and more. Some of the notable businesses and restaurants located across the district include: Saint Arnold Brewing Company Spanish Flower El Bolillo Bakery Pinkerton’s Barbecue Teotihuacan Mexican Café (original location) Houston Farmers Market White Oak Music Hall Houston Foam Plastics A few hidden gems: Granel Spice Market Houston Dairymaids Big Owl Craft Brew House Gerardo’s Butterfly Pocket Park Great view of downtown Houston from White Oak Bayou Greenway Bike Trailhead near Henry and South Streets Learn more about living and working in Houston.  

Investment in infrastructure is critical to a community’s sustainable growth. Here in Houston, infrastructure takes many forms, from flood mitigation projects to expansion of critical highways. These and other topics were covered in the Partnership’s inaugural State of Infrastructure event on September 29.  Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey told attendees that infrastructure investment in the region was on the right track, “but we must continue to come together and ensure our investments…are smart and are carried out in ways that fosters community.” A panel of experts discussed infrastructure topics including broadband development, mass transit, flood mitigation and highway development. The panel moderated by Marc Watts, president of The Friedkin Group, featured:  Toni Beck, Vice President, External Affairs, Comcast Texas Region Ed Jackson, Director, Federal Solutions and Technology, Jacobs Sanjay Ramabhadran, Chairman, Houston METRO Laura Ryan, Commissioner, Texas Department of Transportation  Here are just a few of the takeaways:  Ramabhadran on Mass Transit “Our continued economic growth is tied to our ability to make quality of life improvements. We are in a competition for business and talent and if we want to ensure that continues, we need to make investments into what businesses and talent want.” “We need to make sure we have safe, reliable, multimodal transportation options. It’s not an either-or approach to easing congestion, it has to be an all of the above approach." Ramabhadran also said that bidirectional HOV lanes are important because millennials increasingly want to live in neighborhoods like the Heights, Midtown and Downtown, but work in places like Pearland, Sugar Land and other suburbs. Ryan on Highway Infrastructure  “Whatever we build today has to plan for the unknown of tomorrow. The vision is that we create a really solid base that accounts for all the options...It’s going to take collaboration to get there.” “We’ve taken a lot of the best we’ve been able to learn over time and included those things in the I-45 (NHHIP) project...There are a lot of ways that major infrastructure projects can improve quality of life because those things are intertwined.” “We are a region of immense diversity but we have also historically been a region of respect and collaboration. We need more of that right now to advance infrastructure.” Jackson on Flood Infrastructure  “You don’t develop flood infrastructure overnight. It takes time...How are we looking long term to ensure what we’re putting in the ground is the right solution and works into the future?” “Infrastructure solutions have to include everyone, the varied faces that represent the Houston metro area.” Beck on Broadband Infrastructure  “We have a digital divide--that’s a fact and it’s been there for way too long. The pandemic thrust it into the spotlight.”  However, said Beck, the circumstances of the digital divide in rural America and urban America are often different. “One in 10 households in the Houston area lack a computer. That’s the urban digital divide,” she said.  Harvey said with considerable momentum around infrastructure investment, “the Partnership is committed to working with our elected officials at all levels of government and community partners to ensure the region receives the resources needed to meet the demands of our growing community.”