Construction should begin by the end of October to transform a chopped-up industrial street in East Downtown into something like the pedestrian promenade rendered here. Anton Sinkewich, the director of the East Downtown Management District, explains that 5 blocks of Bastrop St., between Bell and McKinney, running near the Houston Food Truck Park and leading toward BBVA Compass Stadium on Walker, will be regraded. A pedestrian-only crushed granite path will be installed and dozens of trees planted. This first part of the project is modest, says Sinkewich, though there are plans in place to include more amenities if and when the ’hood continues to grow.
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The photo directly above shows Bastrop St. as it is now.
- Previously on Swamplot: East Downtown’s Food Truck Parking Park, A Soccer Ball’s Eye View of the Houston Dynamo’s New East Downtown Stadium
Renderings: EaDo Management District
loving the EaDo news. keep it coming!
good stuff
Hope the EaDo and East End Management districts find a good way to re-work the Franklin underpass to where connectivity between both areas is improved, since they are both starting to experience exciting development. They are so close but sometimes it feels like you have to go out of your way to go back and forth.
Nice to see that this project will start soon. When an industrial area is transformed into a residential/retail nabe via market forces and govt staying out of the way, the element of recreation can’t be left out and that is where govt can invest in public parks etc like this. I hope that the COH is or will soon buy land in that general area for at least a couple of parks. The hike and bike trails are in place but there need to be open spaces too.
I’m actually shocked that construction will begin this month. Based on the earlier description, I thought this would take forever to organize. Good that they are doing it piecemeal so that it can build interest, then they build more, then get more interest…
More good news from EaDo…
I like it, and I was actually at Ninfas this weekend, enjoying the weather, and thinking this place has so much potential. I am glad to see it develop. It could become a very attractive place to be for young people, or those who enjoy an eclectic vibe!
Great news for the East end, I had a friend who lived at The Lofts at the Ballpark years ago and nothing was around it, just a wasteland and in just 5 years it’s been transformed, it’s amazing the difference.
Pardon my ignorance, but how is it that this continuous strip of property went totally undeveloped?
I initially assumed that the city purchased the property from the private owners, but this makes it seem like the city was holding onto it for a while. I’m only asking because the location for the promenade is a little “too perfect.”
Regardless, awesome news.
Adding to my previous comment, part of this strip is probably an unlaid stretch of Bastrop. However, it is almost two times as wide as Bastrop or any of the other parallel streets.
thaq,
That whole strip was a small rail yard. Evidence of former rail spurs on Bastrop can still be seen in this area, for instance, the big hump (or bump, depending on your car’s suspension) in the road on Bastrop between Bell and Jefferson.
I believe this was street right-of-way that never had the actual street constructed. It’s 80′ wide, the same as the downtown streets (remember that 80′ includes the sidewalks too, not just the travel lanes).
Ditto on what Dana-X said but call me old school–why not a promenade/plaza with fountains as well. A center point in which to sit and take in all the scenery.
eiioi got it right. If you check the 1944 historical imagery on Google Earth, there’s a rail yard in the ROW and industrial development along on either side of it. Back then, rail yards and spurs sliced and diced all of east Downtown.
Luz, they plan on doing more, but they only have so much money. This is only the first project of many. Baby steps.
@Luz: All of these grandiose schemes are great in theory. The realistic truth is some will never get built.The ones that do get built will require maintenance /upkeep. Which,as TheNiche,said: costs MONEY. In the long run the developers will rope the COH(translated us the taxpayers) into providing the maintenance/upkeep. And the deplorable condition of our crumbling streets/roads makes it VERY clear: the COH DOES a lousy job of fixing/repairing/maintaining the roads/streets in Houston. In the wealthy parts of town,including the Mayors neighborhood-the Westmoreland District, the roads/streets are in very good/excellent shape.While our hoods get passed over again.Translated,all of these shiny/new politically driven projects have hidden agendas behind them. And they’re using OUR tax dollars. While the COH is months/years behind on providing simple maintenance on the EXISTING infrastructure!!!!! Ms.Parker,our Mayor is delaying 2017 -until she is out of office-the lions share of long overdue repair/replacement of of roads/streets.Because her royal highness says the COH has too much debt/can’t afford it. Annise:we cannot HAVE to afford it/take on $2-3 BILLION in debt to fix/repair/replace our infrastructure.The COH of Houston CAN take on more debt : our bond/credit rating is one the best in country. In the meantime the roads/streets are eating up our vehicles. While your view from the back seat of a limo is through rose colored glasses!!!!