Houston – The Houston City Council has approved Walkable Places and Special Parking Area designations for Park Eight Place, a 70-acre urban village in Westchase. This multi-use development will feature a blend of retail shops, restaurants, entertainment, recreation, hotels, offices, residential spaces, and green areas, marking it as a key community hub.
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Park Eight Place is the first developer-initiated Walkable Place Area application since the 2020 ordinance established pilot areas across Houston. The goal is to “promote walkability in the city and encourage compact, mixed-use development along the appropriate corridors” according to the city’s Planning and Development website.
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Charles Lusk, General Manager of Park Eight Place, shared that the designation is “intended to benefit people who enjoy outdoor spaces and physical activity, even in an urban environment. It will also foster a framework that supports local businesses by making them easily accessible.”
Key benefits of the Walkable Places designation include:
- For pedestrians: Safer, more inviting streetscapes, convenient building entryways, and more areas to gather and interact.
- For businesses: Requirements for windows and door access along sidewalks to encourage foot traffic, increase visibility, and attract more customers.
- For neighborhoods: Activation of the area, with added “eyes on the street” for a vibrant, secure environment.
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The development will feature a new public street system encircling the site, shared parking, and parallel street parking. Additionally, the city noted a 16% reduction in required parking under the Special Parking Area designation, contributing to a more accessible and sustainable design.
“This plan illustrates the potential of Walkable Places standards to elevate Houston’s pedestrian experience,” said Vonn Tran, Director of the Planning & Development Department.
Located next to Arthur Story Park and the Brays Bayou Greenway Trail, Park Eight Place is set to break ground in late 2024, positioning it as a transformative development for the Westchase area.
