The price tag for downtown's "revitalization"? Five billion dollars!
Last week, Kevin noted a KHOU-11 story on the continuing decline of downtown's nightlife. Then, Tom Kirkendall added this bit of context:
This [decline] despite the fact that various local governmental entities have invested at least $1 billion in the downtown area by building a baseball stadium, a basketball arena, a convention center hotel, a light rail system and assorted other goodies.
Sort of makes you wonder what would happen if even a portion of that $1 billion were invested in something that Houston really needs, such as improvements to flood control and traffic hotspots?
Last Sunday, a GHCVB advertising insert in the Chronicle added even more details:
Downtown Houston continues to evolve as a bustling business, theater, and entertainment district. Home to four professional sports teams, eight performing arts companies and a wide selection of restaurants and nightlife, the consensus is in -- Downtown is alive and fun.
Since 1999, public and private investors have spent nearly $5 billion to revitalize downtown. This includes the METRORail, a light rail system to ensure convenient and accessible public transportation, two sparkling new professional sports stadiums, numerous new hotels and renovations to expand the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Five billion dollars. We're sure the homeless appreciate it.
PREVIOUSLY: KHOU: Downtown or ghost town?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 09/15/07 06:27 PM | Print |
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