What is Downtown Houston?
Downtown is the original core of Houston, in Harris County. The City of Houston calls it the birthplace of Houston. It designates the area Super Neighborhood 61. According to the city, freeways built in the 1960s and 1970s set downtown’s modern boundaries.
City planning tables place the super neighborhood in ZIP codes 77002, 77003, 77010 and 77020. The city lists the George R. Brown Convention Center and the University of Houston–Downtown in the area. It also lists Discovery Green, Market Square Park, Daikin Park and the Toyota Center.
How did downtown begin?
The Allen brothers founded Houston. Allen’s Landing is named for them. The original town plat of 1836 had 62 blocks. Market Square has been a park since 1976. The site earlier held four of Houston’s City Markets and City Halls. The Main Street Viaduct over Buffalo Bayou was built in 1913. It was the longest span in Texas at the time.
What is the Main Street Market Square Historic District?
The city calls Main Street Market Square the only commercial historic district in Houston. It lies along the south bank of Buffalo Bayou between Milam and San Jacinto streets. It includes 52 buildings, the Main Street Viaduct, Allen’s Landing Park and Market Square Park. Its architecture reflects Houston’s development between 1860 and 1950.
The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1983. The Texas Historical Commission describes the listed district as roughly bounded by Buffalo Bayou and Fannin, Texas and Milam streets. The city designated it a historic district in 1997. Projects that would alter the exterior of a designated property need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Who manages and funds downtown improvements?
City tables list the Houston Downtown Management District, the East Downtown Management District and the Greater Northside Management District in the super neighborhood. A 1995 Texas Senate bill analysis states that City Council created the Houston Downtown Management Corporation in 1990, and that its services began in 1992.
The Main Street/Market Square reinvestment zone, TIRZ 3, was created in 1995 to stimulate residential development. It began as the nine-block area around the Rice Hotel. It was expanded in 1998, 2005 and 2007. City tables show it covering about 37 percent of the super neighborhood.
What land-use rules apply?
The City of Houston is not zoned. It helps enforce recorded deed restrictions. Historic district rules apply within Main Street Market Square.
Which school district serves downtown?
City planning tables place all of Super Neighborhood 61 within Houston ISD.