Pushback persists as Houston City Council takes step toward closing Polk Street
The city council took the first of two votes to finalize the sale of the street to the Houston First Corporation. The city also attached strings to the plan, which is tied to the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Exclusive: How much money does Hilton Americas-Houston make?
Houston Public Media has an exclusive look at the fee structure paid to Hilton, the operator of the downtown hotel, by the city’s Houston First Corporation, the owner of the building. Hotel workers have been on strike since Sept. 1 as they seek higher wages.
Houston First’s traffic study of contentious Polk Street closure finds ‘no adverse impact’
The Houston First Corporation wants to sever a two-block section of the artery connecting the East End to downtown. According to a traffic study, the planned closure will have “no adverse impact.”
Recent Houston airport travel numbers for 2025 reflect statewide decline in passengers
Domestic travel through Houston airports saw an overall 2.1% decline in March, while international travel through the airports represented a 0.3% dip, according to data compiled by the Houston First Corporation. The city's airport system says it's closely monitoring the trends.
East End residents want more engagement about Polk Street closure as public comment deadline approaches
Houston First Corporation, the tourism and convention marketing arm of the city government, wants control over a section of the street next to the George R. Brown Convention Center ahead of a $2 billion expansion.
Pedestrian safety lights on Montrose bridges under repair by Houston First Corporation
The repairs are being made to the pedestrian lighting structures on the collection of bridges — not the infamous multi-colored decorative lights that once stretched across the bridge arches.
Houston’s East End residents concerned about closure of Polk Street for convention center expansion
A critical connection between the East End and downtown is slated to close because of Houston First’s George B. Brown Convention Center expansion. East End residents say they’ve been left out of the process.
Houston First unveils convention center plans as East End residents raise concerns over Polk Street
Phase one of a downtown project includes a 700,000-square foot expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center in the form of the GRB Houston South building, which will feature two exhibition halls, the largest ballroom in Texas and ground-level spaces for retail stores and restaurants. The project also calls for the abandonment of Polk Street — a critical connection between the East End and downtown.
Michelin Guide restaurant reviews coming to Houston, other Texas cities
Having a restaurant receive one, two or three Michelin stars would instantly elevate its status in the city, which is known for its Tex-Mex, barbecue, Cajun cuisine and Vietnamese food, among other food genres.
Over 51 million people traveled to Houston last year, up 5% since 2022, early projections show
Looking ahead, the city is poised for another record breaking year, according to the corporation. Gastech, an international energy conference planned to be hosted in Houston in September could alone draw a crowd of more than 14,000 energy professionals.
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