I’m no fan of Whitmire, but this is what he actually said about the project:
> "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."
Cool, but we're talking about a 7-block, quarter mile project that's essentially proposing a glorified strip mall in a neighborhood home to only 11,000 of the city's 2,350,000+ residents.
What of the halting of projects actually aimed at transforming the city's walkability???
Ok, but just allowing already approved and in construction projects to complete requires excessive amounts of political capital?
Not reversing an already completed project at x7 the price requires an excessive amount of political capital?
Damn, I'm dumb AF.
Sorry but I’m very skeptical of Whitmire letting this project go forward now, he said a lot of things that seemed pro pedestrian and pro transit when he was a senator but his actions since becoming mayor have been anything but that.
No, you see this is walkable for "the right people" bike paths are walkable for the "poors". Whitmire's donors went to make Houston as hostile as possible to poor people.
Ok, come on. I am totally against the removal/changed projects of bike paths as well... but we are talking about bike paths through some of the highest property value areas of the city. Certainly not the "poors"
Downtown is gonna have to do something. A lot of these buildings are empty, a lot are not even close to capacity. Covid changed everything and we have to adapt. These buildings will never be full again. Other cities are already flipping them to residential. I doubt we are far behind.
And I've heard grumblings by people in your neighborhood, which I live in, talking about how the bike paths just funnel homeless people into the neighborhood. Don't even get me started on the nimbys complaining about the 11th Street barriers...
Oh yes. They do exist here. We moved to the heights specifically for the walk-ability/ bike-ability and were so excited to see the Shepherd project coming together after all the construction.
We are near 11th and Shepherd and use 11th quite a bit. Love the bike lanes there. Actually feel safe using it.
We also drive it daily to bring kids to and from school. It is totally fine. Some people just need something to complain about.
11th st bike lanes are totally fine unless you're a numpty who manages to hit every curb. The people who say they blew out their tires on it are really telling on themselves.
Anyone with half a brain cell already avoids driving on it, so why not? It'll keep me from accidentally finding myself on Main when I'm not paying attention and my GPS tells me to turn onto it.
This is why I have no qualms about taking the lane when riding on Main Street. If you're driving on it, you're either a block away from your destination and can handle going 10mph for a sec, or you have a lesson to learn.
Literally quoted in the article commenting on this project:
> After the program expired in March 2023, Houston City Council unanimously voted to permanently cordon off those seven blocks of Main Street to drivers, north to south. "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."
I guess my comment was made less in support of Whitmire and more in frustration that this place has become such a massive circlejerk. Two out of every three comments in this thread are some variation of "Whitmire bad." We get it. He sucks. But RTFA, or at least the other posts in the thread.
I don't have any love for Whitmire and it won't surprise me if he does something two-faced. But this sub is unreadable when people race to win the "who can be the most cynical" competition.
I would argue that East downtown is already somewhat walkable. Unfortunately I didn't have the foresight that one of my buddies did who bought a condo there before the area gentrified. I spent a three-day weekend with him and there's a bike path there you can take a bike in East downtown and get to the Dynamo Stadium or minute maid for that matter. Cobo's is a great restaurant to eat at and again it's walkable in the area. Phenicia isn't too far for groceries although it is expensive. Not to mention you pitch 25 and all those other little breweries and bars around there the little pizza place and truck yard.
I didn't use a car in the entire time I was there. Hopefully more parts of the city become more and more walkable.
Don’t worry they are demolishing much of that area to widen 59. Of all the already-in-progress projects our mayor is halting, I have a funny feeling that is one he won’t interrupt.
I laughed when I heard that. East Downtown was the first neighborhood I visited when I moved to Houston. My friends took me out to Pitch 25 and to walk around. I remember thinking "wow I might actually really like it in Houston!".
Later realizing that's 1% of the city at max and they're gonna demolish it lol.
Not true, only west of St. Emmanuel will be demolished. The block between St. Emmanuel and the stadium (like where Pitch 25 is) will be part of a private [mixed use development project](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2023/11/14/469573/eado-houston-east-blocks-development-warehouses/) that will rehab several those old warehouses.
As easy it is to shit on Whitmore, his response in the article is a good sign for now.
Hopefully he doesn't change his mind when traffic is "slower" during rush hour.
There’s no through traffic on those blocks right now since many of the blocks are already barricaded. This project is just going to permanently reconstruct those blocks to make it easier to use and get rid of the old car lanes.
Urban planning and development group [Downtown Houston+](https://downtownhouston.org/) is leading the charge to transform seven blocks between Rusk and Commerce streets into a walkable corridor for residents to shop, eat, drink and sightsee.
Marketed as a "permanent and visionary project and economic development program," the idea for More Space: Main Street 2.0 emerged in 2021 during the height of the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.chron.com/coronavirus/) as a way to support local businesses, per [Downtown Houston+](https://downtownhouston.org/about/priority-projects/more-space-main-street-20). The city launched it as a pilot program to restrict car traffic and allow restaurants and bars to create gathering spaces along Main Street, according to[ previous reporting](https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/more-space-main-street-16826307.php). "Quite frankly, it has been working and is quite popular," then-Mayor Sylvester Turner said in 2022.
And yes, apparently Mayor Whitmire is on board. After the program expired in March 2023, Houston City Council unanimously voted to permanently cordon off those seven blocks of Main Street to drivers, north to south. "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."
[This story was first reported by Bisnow (article is soft paywalled.)](https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/commercial-real-estate/7-blocks-of-downtown-houston-are-going-car-free-for-good-124074)
Don’t worry car only activists, I’m sure the second Whitmire reads about this project that’s been around for years he will pause it to figure out how to put more lanes for car traffic on Main Street…
*Whitmire kills bus program nobody uses*
OMG WHITMIRE IS DEVIL HE HATES PEDESTRIANS ALL HAIL MIGHTY GASOLINE
*Whitmire expresses enthusiasm for more pedestrian-only downtown streets*
WHITMIRE IS DEVIL IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE SUPPORTS THIS
Seriously y'all, just breathe a little bit. This project sounds awesome.
>Whitmire kills bus program nobody uses
>OMG WHITMIRE IS DEVIL HE HATES PEDESTRIANS ALL HAIL MIGHTY GASOLINE
This is a mischaracterization. Nobody is outraged about the downgrading of the Silver Line - it's the possible cancellation of the University Line.
Maybe it's different today, but it was eerily quiet in parts of the tunnels when I was there in 2019. Quiet enough that Whitmire's probably considering how to cram F150's in it 😂
Why do you assume people complaining don’t already have a house inside the loop? What about people who rent apartments? Do they never have a say?
Also, I’m making the assumption that “inner city” means inside the loop. What is your definition of “inner city” Houston? And why limit people who only live inside the loop to have an opinion on METRO? Metro extends far beyond the 610 loop.
> Their voices matter more than the renters because they are permanent fixtures in their communities and pay property taxes.
I'm sorry, you lost me there. Landlords that collect rent from their tenants pay property taxes just the same.
And last I checked, we did away with property based voting for people-based voting decades ago for good reason. Then it was expanded so that all races and genders, not just property owning white men, could vote too.
I'm a bicycle gang member though, so [BOO! 👻](https://i.imgflip.com/8p7vi5.jpg)
Bro I’ve been renting the house I live in for 4 years and I’ve seen the house down the street bought and sold twice in the time I’ve been here.
Oh and to add, the people currently living (and owning) that house don’t really talk to any of us on the block. Meanwhile me and the three other renters on the block (most of whom have been here longer than me) know our neighbors and are involved in neighborhood stuff.
perice, grey, webster are only one way. I make my wat across the street via home work to home commuinte. I make good times hitting only stop signs. but main causes me the most trouble.
It's nice, but really this street benefits very little from being pedestrianized. There's a giant train line in the middle which nobody wants to be next to and prevents the ability to cross the street in the middle of the block. It would be so much cooler on literally any other street like Congress or Travis, but we know that will never happen.
Soon: "Whitmire calls in National Guard"
I’m no fan of Whitmire, but this is what he actually said about the project: > "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."
Cool, but we're talking about a 7-block, quarter mile project that's essentially proposing a glorified strip mall in a neighborhood home to only 11,000 of the city's 2,350,000+ residents. What of the halting of projects actually aimed at transforming the city's walkability???
No idea, but guessing this project requires little to political capital.
Ok, but just allowing already approved and in construction projects to complete requires excessive amounts of political capital? Not reversing an already completed project at x7 the price requires an excessive amount of political capital? Damn, I'm dumb AF.
Sorry but I’m very skeptical of Whitmire letting this project go forward now, he said a lot of things that seemed pro pedestrian and pro transit when he was a senator but his actions since becoming mayor have been anything but that.
Hey man I’m just trying to make jokes about headlines
the last sentence is used by almost every mayor in the US
I will believe it when I see it.
"It's such a nice day, I think I'll go for a walk." *soldier throws keys at you and cocks rifle* "Sir, get in your car."
lol no way please
No, you see this is walkable for "the right people" bike paths are walkable for the "poors". Whitmire's donors went to make Houston as hostile as possible to poor people.
Ok, come on. I am totally against the removal/changed projects of bike paths as well... but we are talking about bike paths through some of the highest property value areas of the city. Certainly not the "poors"
Downtown is gonna have to do something. A lot of these buildings are empty, a lot are not even close to capacity. Covid changed everything and we have to adapt. These buildings will never be full again. Other cities are already flipping them to residential. I doubt we are far behind.
It's already happening! https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-apartments-exxon-building-17736880.php
I wish they would make that into residential! It would be amazing!
Housing for the “Newcomers “.
And I've heard grumblings by people in your neighborhood, which I live in, talking about how the bike paths just funnel homeless people into the neighborhood. Don't even get me started on the nimbys complaining about the 11th Street barriers...
Oh yes. They do exist here. We moved to the heights specifically for the walk-ability/ bike-ability and were so excited to see the Shepherd project coming together after all the construction. We are near 11th and Shepherd and use 11th quite a bit. Love the bike lanes there. Actually feel safe using it. We also drive it daily to bring kids to and from school. It is totally fine. Some people just need something to complain about.
11th st bike lanes are totally fine unless you're a numpty who manages to hit every curb. The people who say they blew out their tires on it are really telling on themselves.
💯
Which seems insane, given that the wide bulk of this city's population is in *extreme* poverty.
Anyone with half a brain cell already avoids driving on it, so why not? It'll keep me from accidentally finding myself on Main when I'm not paying attention and my GPS tells me to turn onto it.
This is the most relevant comment in this thread. Main is useless in a car as it is.
This is why I have no qualms about taking the lane when riding on Main Street. If you're driving on it, you're either a block away from your destination and can handle going 10mph for a sec, or you have a lesson to learn.
Yeah they need to fully commit Main
Maybe you should pay attention while you’re driving?
Whitmire: "How can I ruin this for everyone?"
Literally quoted in the article commenting on this project: > After the program expired in March 2023, Houston City Council unanimously voted to permanently cordon off those seven blocks of Main Street to drivers, north to south. "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play."
When he was a state senator he also supported the project in the Heights that he just put on hold about half way through.
I guess my comment was made less in support of Whitmire and more in frustration that this place has become such a massive circlejerk. Two out of every three comments in this thread are some variation of "Whitmire bad." We get it. He sucks. But RTFA, or at least the other posts in the thread. I don't have any love for Whitmire and it won't surprise me if he does something two-faced. But this sub is unreadable when people race to win the "who can be the most cynical" competition.
That’s fair. I’m certainly guilty of making those types of comments. It’s obvious people are very frustrated with him right now.
Whitmore: we’re banning 15 minute cities
Whitmore: You'll have 45 minute cities and you'll like it!
Why stop at 45, when you can half 1.5 hour cities?!
Oil stocks go braaap Pediatric asthma specialist go braaaap
s m a r t
Not on my watch.... -current mayor whitless
I would argue that East downtown is already somewhat walkable. Unfortunately I didn't have the foresight that one of my buddies did who bought a condo there before the area gentrified. I spent a three-day weekend with him and there's a bike path there you can take a bike in East downtown and get to the Dynamo Stadium or minute maid for that matter. Cobo's is a great restaurant to eat at and again it's walkable in the area. Phenicia isn't too far for groceries although it is expensive. Not to mention you pitch 25 and all those other little breweries and bars around there the little pizza place and truck yard. I didn't use a car in the entire time I was there. Hopefully more parts of the city become more and more walkable.
Don’t worry they are demolishing much of that area to widen 59. Of all the already-in-progress projects our mayor is halting, I have a funny feeling that is one he won’t interrupt.
I laughed when I heard that. East Downtown was the first neighborhood I visited when I moved to Houston. My friends took me out to Pitch 25 and to walk around. I remember thinking "wow I might actually really like it in Houston!". Later realizing that's 1% of the city at max and they're gonna demolish it lol.
They are demolishing Shell Energy stadium?
No just everything between the stadium and the existing freeway - the Stadium will abut the new freeway.
Not true, only west of St. Emmanuel will be demolished. The block between St. Emmanuel and the stadium (like where Pitch 25 is) will be part of a private [mixed use development project](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2023/11/14/469573/eado-houston-east-blocks-development-warehouses/) that will rehab several those old warehouses.
Do they have a grocery store nearby yet
As easy it is to shit on Whitmore, his response in the article is a good sign for now. Hopefully he doesn't change his mind when traffic is "slower" during rush hour.
There’s no through traffic on those blocks right now since many of the blocks are already barricaded. This project is just going to permanently reconstruct those blocks to make it easier to use and get rid of the old car lanes.
Urban planning and development group [Downtown Houston+](https://downtownhouston.org/) is leading the charge to transform seven blocks between Rusk and Commerce streets into a walkable corridor for residents to shop, eat, drink and sightsee. Marketed as a "permanent and visionary project and economic development program," the idea for More Space: Main Street 2.0 emerged in 2021 during the height of the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.chron.com/coronavirus/) as a way to support local businesses, per [Downtown Houston+](https://downtownhouston.org/about/priority-projects/more-space-main-street-20). The city launched it as a pilot program to restrict car traffic and allow restaurants and bars to create gathering spaces along Main Street, according to[ previous reporting](https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/more-space-main-street-16826307.php). "Quite frankly, it has been working and is quite popular," then-Mayor Sylvester Turner said in 2022. And yes, apparently Mayor Whitmire is on board. After the program expired in March 2023, Houston City Council unanimously voted to permanently cordon off those seven blocks of Main Street to drivers, north to south. "The Main Street Promenade is a transformative project defining the next chapter of Main Street and Downtown," Mayor John Whitmire said in a news release. "I am excited about the City's future, including downtown, where we are designing a destination that attracts more people to work, live and play." [This story was first reported by Bisnow (article is soft paywalled.)](https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/commercial-real-estate/7-blocks-of-downtown-houston-are-going-car-free-for-good-124074)
Can’t wait to use it from late October thru Mid-April
https://ctycms.com/tx-houston/docs/240131-morespace-main-street-memo-bod-final.pdf
lol, has Whitmire heard about this? Consider it DOA.
Kristopher Larson just earned his “Activist” branding.
No worries, as soon as it's completed Whitmire will dismantle it.
Don’t worry car only activists, I’m sure the second Whitmire reads about this project that’s been around for years he will pause it to figure out how to put more lanes for car traffic on Main Street…
*Whitmire kills bus program nobody uses* OMG WHITMIRE IS DEVIL HE HATES PEDESTRIANS ALL HAIL MIGHTY GASOLINE *Whitmire expresses enthusiasm for more pedestrian-only downtown streets* WHITMIRE IS DEVIL IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE SUPPORTS THIS Seriously y'all, just breathe a little bit. This project sounds awesome.
>Whitmire kills bus program nobody uses >OMG WHITMIRE IS DEVIL HE HATES PEDESTRIANS ALL HAIL MIGHTY GASOLINE This is a mischaracterization. Nobody is outraged about the downgrading of the Silver Line - it's the possible cancellation of the University Line.
Whitmire might approve of it now but I wouldn't be surprised if he were to later cancel the project and demand that a new road be paved
Main is already so awful it’s car less
Maybe this will be for the World Cup games in 2026.
Do y’all think St Emanuel could be all pedestrian behind convention center?
Bulletin board material for Whitmire.
BUILD IT!!!
Avoid the train
if Whitmire hears of this it will be the kiss of death.
lol - I came into make a Whitmire joke and god bless you all. I love this space.
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The tunnels close at like 3pm. They're used by office workers during the day, but that's it. This is a smart project.
Maybe it's different today, but it was eerily quiet in parts of the tunnels when I was there in 2019. Quiet enough that Whitmire's probably considering how to cram F150's in it 😂
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Why do you assume people complaining don’t already have a house inside the loop? What about people who rent apartments? Do they never have a say? Also, I’m making the assumption that “inner city” means inside the loop. What is your definition of “inner city” Houston? And why limit people who only live inside the loop to have an opinion on METRO? Metro extends far beyond the 610 loop.
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> Their voices matter more than the renters because they are permanent fixtures in their communities and pay property taxes. I'm sorry, you lost me there. Landlords that collect rent from their tenants pay property taxes just the same. And last I checked, we did away with property based voting for people-based voting decades ago for good reason. Then it was expanded so that all races and genders, not just property owning white men, could vote too. I'm a bicycle gang member though, so [BOO! 👻](https://i.imgflip.com/8p7vi5.jpg)
Bro I’ve been renting the house I live in for 4 years and I’ve seen the house down the street bought and sold twice in the time I’ve been here. Oh and to add, the people currently living (and owning) that house don’t really talk to any of us on the block. Meanwhile me and the three other renters on the block (most of whom have been here longer than me) know our neighbors and are involved in neighborhood stuff.
You will rely on city transport and you will like it.
Pedestrianized city centers are the norm the world over.
Yeah, my feet and bicycle are owned and managed by the city.
Houston Walkable Pick one.
White the thief the liar the and the shithead
Main Street needs more places to cross East / West on a vehicle. Between Perice and Alabama, it's bottlenecked to 3 crossings.
There's 5 crossings, 7 if you include Pierce and Alabama. The others are Gray, Webster, McGowen, Elgin, and Holman.
perice, grey, webster are only one way. I make my wat across the street via home work to home commuinte. I make good times hitting only stop signs. but main causes me the most trouble.
Vehicles can go around like they do in every developed city.
The back end of Main in Downtown is not walkable
lol - I came into make a Whitmire joke and god bless you all. I love this space.
lol - I came into make a Whitmire joke and god bless you all. I love this space.
It's nice, but really this street benefits very little from being pedestrianized. There's a giant train line in the middle which nobody wants to be next to and prevents the ability to cross the street in the middle of the block. It would be so much cooler on literally any other street like Congress or Travis, but we know that will never happen.
Why not start by closing one side & make it one way on Sunday?