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    The mission of the Community Design Resource Center is to enhance thequality of life in low and moderate income communities throughout the Houston

    region through design research, education, and practice.

    Established in 2005, the Community Design Resource Center works to addressissues of community development, design, planning, affordable housingand civic projects that meet the goals and visions of our partners. We bringdecades of expertise and experience to our collaborations. Over the course ofthe last five years we have partnered with more than fifteen community-basedorganizations and we have collaborated with more than 500 residents andstakeholders; we have engaged more than 100 students in community-basedlearning projects and provided 25 summer student internships.

    Contact:Susan Rogers, DirectorCommunity Design Resource CenterGerald D. Hines College of ArchitectureUniversity of Houston122 Architecture Bldg.Houston, TX [email protected]

    design is a strategy for change

    Community Design Resource Center

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    Contents

    Introduction

    HistoryHistorical Maps and TimelineGreenspoint Mall Timeline

    ContextAerialLand UseParks and TransitFlood ZonesAmenities

    DemographicsPopulation and EthnicityEducation and IncomeHousing

    OpportunitiesGreenspoint MallHighway UnderpassesParks and TrailsMulti-Family

    Participants andSponsors

    5

    6

    10

    22

    28

    39

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    Recently completed PremiereTheater at Greenspoint Ma

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    5

    Introduction

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is located in north

    Houston, bounded by the Hardy Toll

    Road on the east, and bisected by

    the North Freeway (I-45) and the

    North Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway

    8). Fundamentally, the neighborhood

    is divided in quadrants by the North

    Freeway and the Beltway, which

    simultaneously connects the area

    to the city and divides the areasneighborhoods.

    The Greenspoint area was primarily

    developed between the 1970s

    and the 1980s. Most notably,

    Greenspoint Mall, completed in 1976,

    sparked economic growth and the

    development of hotel, business and

    office centers in and around the area.

    Greenspoint, in its heyday, became

    the home to young professionalswho worked in the areas office

    complexes.

    Since the 1980s, Greenspoint has

    experienced gradual disinvestment

    and a virtual halt to economic

    development. Greenspoint Mall,

    once the largest enclosed mall in

    Houston, is now the fourth largest,

    and has lost most of its national

    franchises. The demographics of thearea have also changed over the last

    three decades, and Greenspoint has

    gone from a community comprised of

    mainly single professionals to an area

    that is home to many young families.

    Site Location Map

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    1976 1991

    HoustonIntercontinental Airportis built

    Exxon Mobil movesto Greenspoint

    Greenspoint Mallopens

    11 acres of land areacquired for futurepark space alongGreens Rd

    The GreenspointDistrict is created

    The GreaterGreenspoint PublicSafety Center opensat Greenspoint Mall

    Greenspoint isawarded a CrimeReduction Award

    1969 1989 1993 1994

    1953 Aerial 1978 Aerial 1989 Aerial

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    7

    The Greenspoint area developed

    primarily in the 1970s soon after

    Houston Intercontinental Airport

    was completed in 1969. Many of

    the multi-family developments in

    the area were built in the1970s. In

    1976, Greenspoint Mall opened and

    became the largest and one of the

    most popular shopping malls in the

    city. The mall sparked additional

    investment in the area. In 1989,Exxon Mobil moved its headquarters

    to the Greenspoint Business District

    sparking even more investment and

    job growth in the area. Greenspoint

    became an attractive area for

    young professionals looking for

    job opportunities, housing and

    entertainment.

    In 1987 the price of oil collapsed and

    the Houston economy slumped. The

    History

    199 2010

    A TIRZ is established Thomas R. WussowPark and therenovated City Viewapartments open

    A second CrimeReduction Award isgiven to Greenspoint

    Greenspoint isnamed one of thetop five locations forLogistics Companies

    The Management District announcesthe creation of a new skate parknear Rankin Road

    Archon acquiresmore that 5,000apartments units andbegins redevelpment

    Exxon Mobil announces move fromGreenspoint to a new north Houstoncampus

    200920082002

    Greenspoint area was hit hard. Many

    of the apartment complexes had high

    vacancy rates and crime increased,

    as it did throughout the city.

    In 1991, the Greenspoint area was

    incorporated into the City of Houston

    and the Greenspoint Management

    District was created. Crime reduction

    was one of the main priorities for the

    Management District, which in 1994opened a Public Safety Center at

    Greenspoint Mall. Following a tough

    decade, the Greenspoint areas

    residents and property owners were

    encouraged when in 1998 the Archon

    Group acquired over 5,000 apartment

    units in the area for renovation and

    upgrading, with plans to secure

    additional units. The goal was to

    again make the area popular for

    young professionals. While many

    apartments were renovated, overall

    the project was not successful, and

    in 2010 three of the complexes once

    held by Archon were foreclosed and

    purchased by Kaplan Management.

    The goal for Kaplan is to increase

    civic programs in the complexes,

    such as a clinic, tutoring, vocational

    training, a police storefront and other

    services.

    The Greenspoint Management

    District and the TIRZ are enhancing

    the overall attractiveness of the

    district, building parks and open

    spaces, and working to enhance

    economic opportunity. But there

    remain significant challenges for area

    families, including poverty, access to

    healthy food, and transportation.

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    5m

    .

    10m

    .

    15m

    .

    20m

    .

    Willowbrook Mall

    Galleria Mall

    5m.

    10m

    .

    15m

    .

    20m

    .

    Greenspoint Ma

    Deerbrook Ma

    Woodlands Ma

    ABOVE: Map of GreateHouston Area Malls

    BELOW: GreenspoinMall Timeline

    19891976

    1988

    With 94% occupancy,Greenspoint Mall has thehighest occupancy ratein Houston

    Greenspoint MallOpens with Foleys andSears as anchors

    Lord & Taylor closesand Mervyns opens inits place

    The mall is expanded witha Central Park theme. Theexpansion included fournew anchors, Lord & Taylor,Montgomery Ward, Joskesand JCPenney

    1978-80

    Willowbrook Mallopens

    1981

    Deerbrook Mallopens

    1984

    Prudential Property Co.planned a $7 millionrenovationGreenspoint Mall is thelargest enclosed mall inHouston

    Woodlands Mallopens

    1994

    (Maps and Graphics by GreenspoinStudent Team

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    9

    Greenspoint Mall opened in 1976.

    Until the late 1990s the Mall was the

    largest in the Houston region, today

    it is the fourth, behind the Galleria,

    Memorial City Mall, and Willowbrook

    Mall. The mall was initially anchored

    by Sears and Foleys, but in the late

    70s the mall was expanded and four

    additional anchor stores were added,

    Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, Joskes and

    Montgomery Ward. In 1989, the mall

    had the highest occupancy rate in the

    city at 94%.

    As Houstons economy slumped in

    the late 80s, the Greenspoint area

    began to see some disinvestment,

    the effects of which were also felt in

    the mall. Lord & Taylor closed and

    was replaced by Mervyns in 1989,

    JCPenney and Mervyns shuttered

    their doors in 1998, Montgomery

    Greenspoint Mall

    History

    Ward followed in 2001, and in 2010

    Sears closed.

    In 2006 the mall was put up for sale.

    In 2011, Premiere Theaters opened a

    new cinema in the previous location

    of JCPenney and a $32 million dollar

    renovation project has been proposed

    to transform the Mall into what some

    would call a Lifestyle Center.

    2001 20101998

    JCPenny closes itsdoors.

    Mervyns is replaced byFitness Connection

    Montgomery Ward closes its doors. Sears closes its doors

    JCPenny is demolished fora movie theater to be built inits place

    Greenspoint Mall is thefourth largest enclosed mallin the Houston area

    2000

    Greenspoint Mall is put upfor sale

    2006

    Future Plan for Greenspoint Mal

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    11

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is located in north

    Houston and covers an area of

    roughly seven square miles. The

    neighborhood is bounded on the

    east by the Hardy Toll Road, and

    divided into quadrants by the North

    Freeway (I-45), which runs north and

    south, and the North Sam Houston

    Tollway (Beltway 8), which runs

    east and west. Greens Bayou windsthrough the northern quadrants of the

    community.

    The major thoroughfares in the area

    are Greens Road and Airline Drive.

    Greenspoint is approximately seven

    miles from Bush Intercontinental

    Airport, and is twenty minutes from

    Downtown Houston. Greenspoint

    Mall (with 1.5 million square feet) and

    the Greater Greenspoint BusinessDistrict (where 78,000 work) are

    anchors in the community.

    The Greenspoint area is in many

    ways a tale of two cities: one city that

    caters to those who work in the areas

    office buildings; and one city for those

    who call the area home. Finding

    ways to bridge across the different

    users of the area is important for its

    future.

    Context

    Beltway 8

    I-45

    Airlin

    eDr.

    Greens Rd.Hardy

    TollR

    oad

    ABOVE: Map of Major ThoroughfaresOPPOSITE PAGE: Greater

    Greenspoint Aerial

    GreensBayou

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    Figure Ground Map

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    13

    Mall

    Multi-Family

    Single-Family

    Commercial andOffice

    Commercialand Retail

    Light Industrial

    Multi-Family

    Multi-Family

    Commercialand Office

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is divided into distinct

    land uses that operate independently,

    acting almost like islands separated

    from other uses. Multi-family housing

    makes up over 85% of all housing

    units in the area and is concentrated

    in the northern sections of the

    community. Single-family detached

    housing makes up only 15% of all

    housing units and is concentratedin the southeast portion of the

    neighborhood.

    Office and commercial space in

    the area totals over 18 million

    square feet. Office development is

    concentrated just east of the Mall

    and in the northwest quadrant of the

    community, west of I-45.

    The land use patterns are clearlyillustrated in the figure ground map to

    the left.

    Context

    Commercialand Office

    ABOVE: Diagram of Land Use IslandsBELOW: Greesnpoint Photos

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    Major investment in the Greenspoint

    area began in the early 1970s. In

    1976, Greenspoint Mall opened

    and beginning in the late 1970s and

    early 1980s office buildings, hotels,

    and additional retail space begin to

    be developed adjacent to the mall.

    The largest of these developments

    was Greenspoint Plaza, originally

    developed by the Friendswood

    Development Company, andincludes six office buildings with two

    prime development sites for future

    buildings.

    Exxon Mobil is one of the major

    employers in Greenspoint. The

    company opened offices there in

    the late 1980s. Currently Exxon

    occupies over 2 million square feet,

    approximately 16% of all office space

    in the area. Recently the companyhas announced a move further north

    to a new campus in Spring. The

    Management District is sure that this

    space will be filled in the future.

    Downtown Houston

    44 million SF of

    Office Space

    Greenspoint

    18 million SF of

    Office Space

    Commercial andIndustrialLand Use Map

    CommerciaIndustria

    (Maps and Graphicsby Greenspoint Student Team

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    Greenspoint has one of the largest

    concentrations of multi-family

    housing in Houston. Most of the

    housing was developed between

    the mid-1970s through to the mid-

    1980s. The median year housing

    was constructed in the Greenspoint

    area is 1977. Most of the multi-

    family housing is concentrated

    along Greens Road in the northern

    quadrant of the community. Ofthe 13,559 total housing units in

    the Super Neighborhood nearly

    11,000 of these are multi-family.

    Furthermore, multi-family complexes

    with 10 or more units make up 65%

    of all housing in the area.

    Single-family housing is concentrated

    in the southeast portion of the

    neighborhood. This area holds

    nearly all of the 2,000 single-familyunits.

    Housing Land Use MapSingle-Family

    Multi-FamilyInstitutiona

    Context

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    GreenspointMallArea

    100Acres

    ExistingandProposed

    ParkArea

    48Acres

    CityofHouston

    RecommendedParkArea

    428Acres

    Park

    Deficit

    380Acres

    There are three parks in the Greater

    Greenspoint Super Neighborhood,

    these include Buckboard Park, City

    View Park and Thomas R. Wussow

    Park. There are also four parks

    that are currently being completed,

    Bradfield Park, Greens Crossing

    Park, Ida Gaye Gardens, and a new

    Skate Park.

    In total Greenspoint will have 48acres of parks once those currently

    under construction are complete.

    According to City of Houstons

    guidelines for parks this falls far short

    of the recommended park space.

    Parks Map

    The City of Houston recommends 11

    acres of park for every 1,000 residents.

    Greenspoint falls short of this

    recommendation by 380 acres.

    Thomas RWussow Park

    (Existing

    Ida GayeGardens

    (UndeConstruction

    City View Par(Existing

    Bradfield Park(Proposed

    Greens Crossing Park(Proposed)

    Skate Park(Proposed)

    Buckboard Park(Existing)

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    17

    56

    10286

    56

    65

    Over 24% of Greenspoint households

    do not have access to a vehicle, as

    compared to 10% in Houston overall.

    The area is served by three Metro

    bus routes: the 56 Airline; the 86

    FM 1960 Crosstown; and the 102

    Airport. These routes have very high

    ridership. The 56 Airline ranks eighth

    among Metro bus routes for weekday

    boardings, fourth for Saturday

    boardings, and first for Sundays.

    The transit lines connect the

    area to the airport, Downtown

    Houston, Airline flea markets, and

    other destinations. The edge of

    Greenspoint Mall along Greenspoint

    Drive serves informally as a transit

    center, with all three routes stopping

    adjacent to the mall.

    In addition to bus service, it has been

    proposed that the Northside Light

    Rail line be extended north to serve

    Bush Intercontinental Airport. The

    route would come north along Airline,

    jog over to Greenspoint Drive, and

    then travel east along Greens Road

    to reach the airport. This extension

    remains a future possibility.

    Beltway 8

    Propo

    sedLightR

    ailL

    ine

    Context

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    Flood Zone Mapyr. Flood Zon10yr. lood500 on

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    19

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is in the Greens Bayou

    watershed. The bayou flows east

    and west along the northern portion

    of the neighborhood and is prone to

    flooding. As a result, much of the

    area sits within either the 100-year or

    500-year flood zone.

    41% of all housing is in the 100-year

    flood zone, while 16% is in a 500-year zone. 72% of all multi-family

    housing is in a flood zone, as much

    of it was developed along the banks

    of the bayou. As a result, many of

    the structures have been flooded on

    numerous occasions, creating an

    ongoing risk for tenants.

    RIGHT: Diagram of Housing in Flood Zones

    OPPOSITE PAGE, Left: Flood Zone Map

    (Diagrams by Greenspoint Student Team)

    41%

    16%

    72%

    Percentage of Housing in

    Flood Zone

    Multi-FamilyHousing

    Single-FamilyHousing

    14%

    Context

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    Location of Schools in Greenspoint

    Pre-School

    Elementary

    Middle School

    High SchoolAdult Education

    PRE

    K

    E

    M

    HSADULT

    ED

    E

    ADULT

    ED

    E

    E

    HS

    M

    ADULT

    ED

    ADULT

    ED

    ECHARTER

    M

    Temporary Employment Agencies

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    21

    Food Options in Greenspoint

    Grocery Stores

    Mini Marts and Convenience Stores

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is in Aldine ISD.

    There are three elementary schools,

    one public charter elementary, two

    middle schools, one ninth grade

    campus, and one high school in the

    area. All of the public schools are

    south of Beltway 8 making it difficult

    for young people to walk to school.

    Remington College has a campusoff of Greens Road on the east side

    of I-45. There are also a number of

    other adult education facilities in the

    area.

    The northeastern section of the

    neighborhood has bew basic

    amenities. There are no full-service

    grocery stores in this area, only

    small mini-marts and convenience

    stores, and this area is the mostdensely populated sector of the

    neighborhood.

    Context

    (Maps by Greenspoint Student Team)

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    notuoHtnipneer

    1990 2000 00 1990 2000 2009

    Total Population 26,241 32,623 38,925 1,630,672 1,954,848 2,191,400

    Race/Ethnicity

    213145%9%2etihW

    32528252%13%83nacirmAnirA/kalB

    541%3%2naisA

    43728%75%33cinapiH

    00%1%secrromroowT/rh

    Age227263%43%sraY81renU

    8832%sreY5rv

    Place of Birth

    822137363%tnedieRnroBnierF

    Means of Transportation to Work

    47272461%6enolAvorD

    411512252%02elopraC

    5678%niaropnarTilbuP

    5676%).t,moHtakroW,lcyciB,klW(rh

    Educational Attainment 25 Years+

    231344%64%3molpiDloohShgiHoN433474%44%35eelloCmoS/amlpiDlohcShiH

    4443%4%4ereDsticossA

    811514%2%ergeDsrolhcaB

    11720%1eereDtudr

    *Note: 1990 Data is for population 18 Years+

    Median Household Income 18,766 27,999$ 29,224$ 26,261$ 36,616$ 42,797

    8%6%1naieM'notsuHftnecreP

    Percent of Population Below Poverty 28% 26% 34 21 19 21%

    Housing Units 13,781 13,559 15,501 726,402 782,378 924,224

    Tenure4645461%7%8srenwtnecreP

    35455548%38%28renRtnecreP

    Vacant Housing Units 26% 18% 17 15 8 13%

    Households without access to a vehicle 23% 17% 24 24 12 10%

    Persons per Household 2.6 2. 3. 2. 2. 2.7

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    23

    White

    Black/African-American

    TotalPopulation

    Asian

    Hispanic

    Other/Twoormoreraces

    2,1

    91,4

    00

    38,9

    25

    100%

    90%

    80%

    70%

    40%

    50%

    40%

    30%

    20%

    10%

    0

    10%

    20%

    30%

    60%

    50%

    60%

    70%

    80%

    90%

    100%

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is just over 7 square

    miles and is home to approximately

    39,000 people. The population

    density of the area is approximately

    5,500 people per square mile, 50%

    higher than the average population

    density in the city of Houston, though

    much of the land area is vacant.

    The Greater Greenspoint SuperNeighborhood is majority Hispanic

    (68%). 5% of the population is White,

    25% Black/African-American, and 1%

    Asian. 37% of the population was

    born outside of the U.S. compared to

    28% in Houston.

    Over the last twenty years the

    population in Greenspoint has

    increased by 48%, where Houston

    has grown by 34%. Since 1990,an additional 12,500 people call

    Greenspoint home even though only

    1,720 new housing units have been

    constructed. This fact illustrates the

    increasing density of Greenspoint as

    families have replaced singles in the

    many apartment complexes. In fact,

    in Greenspoint 36% of the population

    is under 18 years of age as compared

    to 27% in Houston. In 1990 only 9%

    of the population of Greenspoint wasunder 18.

    Demographics

    Houston 28%

    Greenspoint 37%

    Percent of Residents Born Outsidethe U.S., Houston and GreenspointSource: 2009 American Community Survey

    Population Ethnicity, 2009GreenspointHouston

    Source: 2009 American Community Survey

    OPPOSITE PAGE: DemographicSummary Table

    Sources: 1990 Census, 2000 Census, 2009American Community Survey

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    Percentage of Population Twenty-Five Years of Age and Above WhoHave Received at Least a BachelorsDegree

    Occupation Status Comparisonc GraphsBlue ColarWhite Colar

    U.S. Texas

    Houston Greenspoint

    In 2009 educational attainment for

    the population over 25 years of

    age was much lower in the Greater

    Greenspoint Super Neighborhood

    than in the city overall. 44% of this

    population does not have a high

    school diploma and only 6% hold

    a bachelors degree or higher. In

    Houston 26% of the population does

    not have a high school diploma, and

    28% has a bachelors or graduatedegree.

    (Charts by Greenspoint Student Team)

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    Average Hourly Wage by Census Tract,2009

    $10/Hour$12/Hour$14/Hour$16/Hour$18-20/Hour

    Source: 2009 American Community Survey

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    27

    The Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood has nearly 11,000

    apartments, one of the largest

    concentrations of apartments in the

    City of Houston. As a result, 84%

    of all residents in Greenspoint rent,

    while 16% own their homes.

    The average hourly wage in

    Greenspoint is $13.24, nearly $4 less

    than the wage necessary to affordrent on a two-bedroom unit at the

    average Houston fair market rent. $17.15 /hr.Wage necessaryto afford rent ona two-bedroomapartment at fairmarket rent inHouston

    $13

    .24/hr.

    Average

    Greenspo

    intWage

    $19

    .48/hr.

    Average

    Hous

    ton

    Wage

    Owner

    Occupie

    d

    Ren

    ter

    Occupie

    d

    Fam

    ily

    Occup

    ied

    Non-Fa

    milyOccup

    ied

    Family Households and Tenure, 2009Houston and Greenspoint(Charts and Maps by Greenspoint Student Team)

    Source: 2009 American Community Siurvey

    Source: NationalLow IncomeHousing Coalition

    Houston Greenspoint

    Demographics

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    Map of Opportunities

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    29

    The Greater Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is a successful office

    center, but the neighborhoods

    residents are not having the same

    success. 34% of households in

    Greenspoint live on incomes below

    poverty level, and many are children.

    The nearly 11,000 apartment units

    are in need of maintenance and many

    face an ongoing risk of flooding. The

    complexes have become islands,each separated from the larger

    community.

    We have identified four opportunities

    for improvement in the Greenspoint

    area: Greenspoint Mall; the highway

    underpasses; the system of parks

    and trails; and revitalization of multi-

    family housing. The opportunities

    could work to support the diverse

    user groups in the area while alsopointing to potential strategies for

    weaving the different land uses and

    amenities together.

    Opportunities

    Greenspoint Mall InteriorPhoto by Susan Rogers

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    31

    Greenspoint Mall

    Opportunities

    Greenspoint Mall, completed in 1976,

    was once the largest and one of the

    most prestigious malls in Houston.

    Today the mall has fallen on hard

    times. Anchor stores have closed

    and national franchises have been

    replaced by smaller, and in some

    cases, local franchises. Recently, a

    new cinema, the Premiere Theater,

    opened on the site of the former

    JCPenney.

    The mall site is bounded by I-45 on

    the west and Beltway 8 on the south,

    and is directly across the street from

    the Greenspoint Business District that

    draws 78,000 office workers each

    day, with average incomes far above

    the Houston median. In contrast, the

    residents of the area are struggling

    economically. According to the

    Greenspoint Management District,

    there are 85,000 people within a

    three mile radius, and nearly 200,000

    within a five mile radius.

    Diagram illustrating the scale othe Greenspoint Mall site

    54 Downtown Houston Blocksfi

    within the 100 acres

    The mall is a primary opportunity

    site within the neighborhood. The

    100 acre site could be strategically

    re-considered both as a structure to

    add-on to or as a site for intervention.

    New programs for the mall could

    build on the existing conditions. For

    example, the eastern edge of the site

    along Greenspoint Drive currently

    serves as an informal transit center, a

    re-designed transit center could better

    integrate with the mall to allow transit

    riders a place to get a cup of coffee

    or a bite to eat. The area could also

    cater to air travelers providing auto

    service, pet boarding, dry cleaning,

    or other services. Housing, open

    space, and educational facilities are

    other opportunities for programmatic

    intervention on the site. Finding

    ways to simultaneously meet the

    needs of residents and area office

    workers could result in new success

    for the mall. BELOW: Greenspoint MaOPPOSITE PAGE: Aerial o

    Greenspoint Ma

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    ?Markets, public art, public spaces,

    and other programs are just

    some of the possibilities for the

    underpasses

    BELOW, Left to Right: FreewayInterchanges in Greenspoint, Photosby Greenspoint Student Team

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    33

    Highway Underpasses

    The Greenspoint Super

    Neighborhood is divided into

    quadrants, north to south with I-45

    and east to west with Beltway 8.

    Re-connecting the quadrants of

    the neighborhood by developing

    a strategy to enhance the

    attractiveness and connectivity of

    underpasses throughout the area is

    an opportunity.

    The Greenspoint Management

    District has been actively pursuing

    ideas to transform the underpasses,

    and have completed a project

    focused on painting the columns in

    shades of blue and green under I-45

    and the Beltway.

    Other strategies might include

    public art, lighting, programmatic

    interventions, a transit center, or

    public space.

    Opportunities

    adreensI-45and

    reenspoint Dr. eyImperial Vall

    Diagram of Intersections

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    The Greenspoint Management

    Districts plan for parks and trails

    in the area includes three new

    parks, a large basin that will serve

    asflood retention, and continuous

    trails along the banks of Greens

    Bayou with additional connecting

    trails to the proposed parks.

    ProposedFuture Park

    ProposedGreensCrossing Park

    Legend:Existing TrailsProposed Trails

    RIGHT: Plan of Existing and ProposedParks and Trails

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    35

    Opportunities

    Proposed GlenForest Basin(FloodDetention)

    Proposed

    Bradfield Park

    Wussow Park(Existing)

    City View Park(Existing)

    The proposed system of parks and

    trails in the Greenspoint area is

    an opportunity to provide greater

    connectivity across the area but also

    to provide programming that serves

    the residents and weekday office

    workers.

    Parks and Trails

    Diagram of Potential TrailsTrailsParks and SchoolsFocus Areas

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    Aerial Diagram ofMulti-Family Housing

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    37

    Mutli-Family

    Greenspoint has been designated a

    Multi-Family Revitalization Zone by

    the City of Houston. The program

    focuses on distressed multi-family

    housing, particularly housing in

    the flood plain. The program

    provides resources for demolition,

    green space, and reconstruction.

    Greenspoint has nearly 11,000 units

    of multi-family housing, much of it

    concentrated in the flood plain.

    Developing strategies for selective

    editing of multi-family complexes

    in Greenspoint, and re-purposing

    these areas as detention and

    open spaces, could be benefical.

    In addition, strategies to add

    supportive programming to the

    complexes could be explored. For

    example, after-school programs,

    health services, job training, day

    care, business incubators, or other

    programs.

    Opportunities

    BELOW, Left: Diagram ofMulti-Family Housing andFlood ZonesRIGHT: HousingOpportunity Map

    Marcella M.S.

    Thompson E.S.

    Black E.S.

    Buckboard Park

    Beltway 8

    Imperia

    lV

    alle

    y

    CityViewPark

    WussowPark

    Greens Bayou

    Drainage Ditch

    GayeGardens

    FutureBradfieldPark

    Vacant

    Vacant

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    ParticipantsCommunity Design WorkshopUniversity of HoustonCollege of ArchitectureStudent Team, Spring 2011Jennifer BranhamJohn RezsonyaSidney SanJosh Sawyer*This document is largely based on research prepared by students in

    Spring 2011

    Community Design Resource Center

    University of Houston

    Susan Rogers, DirectorRafael Longoria, Project Co-DirectorMaria Oran, Senior Research Assistant

    Community StakeholdersBart Baker

    Professional Guests and CriticsKeiji AsakuraAntoine BryantRobert BurrowsJulia MandellZakcq LokremPatricia Oliver, Dean

    Bradley Wray, Councilman Rodriguez Office

    SponsorsThe Collaborative Community Design Initiative is supported in part bya grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with financialand in-kind support from the Greater Houston Local Initiatives SupportCorporation, the Community Design Resource Center, the Gerald. D.Hines College of Architecture, and the generous commitment of time fromstakeholders and professionals across Houston.

    We would like to thank all of our partners and supporters.

    Participants and Sponsors

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