In 1959, the early stages of Memorial City on Houston’s west side began to take shape. Joseph Johnson, the founder of the real estate development company MetroNational, saw potential to transform 200 acres of underutilized land off Gessner Road into a “city within a city.” Now, 60 years later, Memorial City is a prime west …read more »
Scenic Citizen: University of Houston, Perspectives art project
This month’s Scenic Citizen recognizes the Perspectives beautification art project displayed at the busy I-45/Cullen underpass near the University of Houston (UH). Designed by students in the Graphic Design program, the Perspectives mural depicts the history and character of four neighboring communities. GONZO247, a Houston graffiti artist, collaborated with the students to produce a design …read more »
Scenic Citizen: Radom Capital
Honest materials bind the framework for Heights Mercantile, a low-rise mixed-use development that’s home to eclectic dining, office, and retail spaces in the historic Heights neighborhood. What makes the materials like exposed steel, corrugated metal panels, and cross braces honest is that they all reference the metal warehouse previously on the site and reveal how …read more »
Scenic Citizen: Barry Ward, Trees for Houston
“To make Houston a more livable, walkable city, a place where people want to move to or to visit, it’s just going to have to be greener and more beautiful and healthier. You can’t achieve that without trees,” Barry Ward, Executive Director of Trees for Houston, says. He is a tree expert, with a background …read more »
Scenic Citizen: Dimitri Fetokakis, Adopt-An-Esplanade program
Visit Niko Niko’s in Montrose, order a Souvlaki sandwich, and situate yourself in the back-dining room; you will be sitting in Dimitri Fetokakis’ childhood home. He is the proprietor of the crowd-pleasing Niko Niko’s Greek & American Café, having taken over the family business at 25. He was heavily influenced by his parent’s altruistic nature, …read more »
Scenic Texas announces 2018 Scenic City Certifications
This month, 13 Texas cities earned certified Scenic City status for demonstrating strong municipal infrastructure standards, through a rigorous assessment process developed by Scenic Texas, Keep Texas Beautiful and 14 other Program Partner organizations. The Scenic City Certification Program offers cities an objective review of existing municipal infrastructure standards as they relate to public roadways and public spaces. The …read more »
Scenic Houston holds ribbon cutting ceremony for Broadway/Hobby Corridor Redevelopment Project
City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other dignitaries gather for celebration HOUSTON – January 12, 2017 – Scenic Houston held a ribbon cutting ceremony today for the Broadway/Hobby Corridor Redevelopment Project, a nearly two-mile-long portion of Broadway Street connecting Hobby Airport and Interstate 45. Joined by Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston officials …read more »
Houston Area cities recognized for excellence in scenic standards: El Campo, Pearland, Richmond and Webster
Twenty-three Texas municipalities have been awarded Scenic City Certification through the Scenic City Certification Program, a project of Scenic Texas. The Scenic City program supports and recognizes cities for commitment to high-quality scenic standards for public roadways and public spaces. Nine cities are now certified for the first time, and 14 are re-certifying or upgrading …read more »
New Studies Indicate Digital Billboards Compromise Driver Safety: New studies confirm the evidence
A review of recent research on driver distraction near digital billboards finds increased evidence the bright, constantly changing digital billboards negatively impact traffic safety. The compendium highlights new studies proving digital billboards are attracting longer and more frequent glances from drivers than do static signs. The compendium’s author, engineering psychologist Jerry Wachtel of the Veridian Group, said …read more »
Scenic Houston Announces Broadway/Hobby Corridor Redevelopment Project Given the Green Light
$4.9 million raised to dramatically transform the appearance of this major thoroughfare HOUSTON– January 12, 2016 – Scenic Houston today announced a major plan for enhancing the visual appeal of the nearly two-mile-long Broadway/Hobby corridor connecting Hobby Airport and Interstate 45. $4.9 million of the $7.5 million budget for enhancements has been raised through private …read more »