Measure to revitalize downtown nearer to approval

A bipartisan measure that could bring nearly $2 billion to Houston for downtown revitalization and economic development faced one more vote in the House on Tuesday and appears headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

The Texas House on Monday night voted to advance Senate Bill 1057, which area leaders have described as a top priority for the legislative session ending May 29.

The bill, which last week appeared to have hit a roadblock, would allow the city and Houston First, the government corporation that operates Houston’s convention venues, to receive certain downtown hotel taxes in excess of the amount collected this year for up to 30 years.

The revenue, which the state comptroller’s office expects to total more than $1.8 billion, would be used to make improvements to the George R. Brown Convention Center and surrounding areas, including EaDo.

“This will enable us to transform our downtown and convention district in a way that not only makes us a more attractive destination, but makes us a stronger economic base and ultimately creates jobs,” Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First, said.

The bill builds on legislation passed in 2013 that created a similar incremental revenue deal for Dallas and Fort Worth.

“Houston should have jumped on it then,” said state Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who authored the bill. “That would have been a good move.”

Ten years later, SB 1057 was sponsored in the Texas House by state Reps. Sam Harless, a Republican, and Shawn Thierry, a Democrat, both from the Houston

area. Harless noted that expanding the convention center, which is over 35 years old, could increase attendance at events by perhaps 400,000 people annually.

“This action would enhance the ability for the

Houston area to host larger conventions and in turn increase revenue and sales tax to the state of Texas and the city of Houston,” he said.

Whitmire, the longestserving member of the Texas Senate, agreed.

“It’s not money the state’s losing; it’s money the state would never realize, but for this growth,”

Whitmire said. “In fact, it will help the state because it will increase growth beyond the district. The ripple effect will be significant.”

“We’ve got to do more in Austin for these big cities,” he added. “We do so many things for rural Texas. We’ve got the best farm-to-market roads in the nation; we’re always

trying to help them with their brush control.”

This bill, he said, would help Texas’ largest city.

“I hope it’s just going to demonstrate that Austin can support large cities with meaningful projects,” Whitmire said.