Houston City Council will soon vote on whether to close a section of Polk Street in downtown Houston to allow the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Texas Department of Transportation’s I-45 overhaul.
The proposal has drawn opposition from East End residents who fear the closure will further isolate their neighborhood from the rest of the city.
During a City Hall meeting Tuesday, East End residents urged council members to delay or reject the plan. Scott Singleton, a longtime resident, said the community supports growth but opposes losing the routes that connect them to downtown.
He pointed to previous developments—the convention center, the soccer stadium, and Minute Maid Park—as projects that already limited neighborhood access.
Residents also warned that closing Polk Street would disrupt travel for people attending events at the Toyota Center, Discovery Green, and the convention center.
“We’re not against progress,” said Ian Hlavacek, another East End resident. “We just want a seat at the table and access maintained.”
Houston First Corporation, which manages the George R. Brown Convention Center, explained that the closure forms part of the North Houston Highway Improvement Project and supports the convention center’s redevelopment.
The corporation committed to working with Houston Public Works to convert Leeland Street into a two-way road within 12 months to help ease traffic concerns.
A traffic study from Transcend Engineers & Planners LLC shows only slight increases in travel times across 48 nearby intersections.
City Council will decide on the Polk Street proposal in the coming weeks. Residents continue to push for alternatives that maintain East End’s connection to downtown and ensure balanced urban development.
