Put Houstonians First: Keep Polk Open!

Houston First Corporation said publicly this week that they've already spent $108 million on the GRB expansion, and are now considering $2.9 billion in debt service for their convention center expansion.

Why?

CEO Michael Heckman says that, "…it is definitely about hotel rooms, but it is also about more than that…it is also about insuring the viability and vitality of downtown."

Sigh.

Even if he is correct (a debate for another time), I'd suggest that Houstonians should not be severely, negatively impacted. There is a better way, there are options, there are creative designs to consider.

Houston First should redesign its convention center expansion to keep Polk Street open. First, Polk is a critical east-west corridor that keeps traffic, transit, and pedestrians moving. Closing it would choke off connectivity across downtown and the East End. Second, Polk provides an essential route for emergency services, which could be severely impacted during large events like FIFA 2026 and the RNC in 2028. Finally, with $2.9 billion in debt on the table, the city cannot afford a design that sacrifices essential infrastructure for a project whose economic benefits are far from guaranteed.

Lastly, it has not escaped notice that these impacts will be felt most greatly on the East side, where diversity is the norm and incomes vary greatly. Equity matters, and East End mobility has suffered enough.

If you have comments, post them below or tell them directly to Houston First Corporation at their Board Meeting, 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning, during public comments.