In 2004, city officials forged a comprehensive plan to transform Houston's central business district. Now, 13 years later, city officials will come together once again to decide the next phase of Downtown's metamorphosis.

“We’ve made tremendous progress [since the last comprehensive plan],” said Bob Eury, executive director of the Downtown District. "A few of the success stories include: a major opportunity for green space, which was realized with Discovery Green; greater neighborhood connectivity to the George R. Brown Convention [Center], which recently coalesced as Avenida Houston; and more residential, which we accomplished with the Downtown Living Initiative.”

The 17-member leadership group that will form the new plan is composed of representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, Central Houston, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority / TIRZ No. 3, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Theater District Houston, along with representatives from East Downtown, Greater East End, Greater Northside and Midtown.

Asakura Robinson has been selected to draft Plan Downtown with a consultant team that includes Sasaki, Traffic Engineers Inc. and HR&A Advisors.

Plan Downtown, which will be presented in late fall of this year, will examine how Downtown can leverage a changing role to grow its economic competitiveness. To that end, the study will investigate interrelated topics including:

• Attractions, hospitality and culture

• Economic potential

• Innovation and education

• Infrastructure, mobility and transportation

• Livability, connectivity and public space

• Social equity

• Technology

• Urban planning, development and design