Originally Posted by photoLith (Post 6805163)

It's pretty freaking ugly. But whatever, anything is better than an empty lot downtown and the lots are quickly filling in which I wouldn't have thought three years ago would be happening at this rapid of a pace now.

Originally Posted by Houston Chronicle

Houston Central Library Plaza gets Some Love

City officials recognize the plaza's potential as a people-gathering space, given its prime location between the Central Library and the beautifully-restored Julia Ideson Library. Wednesday they announced they have a source of funds to improve it: A Heart of the City grant from Southwest Airlines, in partnership with the Project for Public Spaces Inc., a New York nonprofit that has worked behind the scenes for about 40 years to help local groups turn under-used assets into vibrant public spaces. The organization has supported many Houston improvements, including Discovery Green, Market Square Park, Levi Park, Navigation Boulevard and Emancipation Park.

Project for Public Spaces provides technical assistance; Southwest will pay for the amenities and help to kick-start programming.

"It's the right time to award this grant and get the project started," said Megan Lee, Southwest's senior manager for community outreach.

The airline has already funded urban park-improvement projects in San Antonio, Detroit and Providence, Rhode Island. Eventually, it hopes to help revitalize public spaces in each of the 99 cities it serves, Lee said. She plans to have an additional five projects in play next year.

Exactly what will be done and what it will cost aren't yet known; that's partly what the public voting was about. The library will keep the posters up a few weeks before the design is finalized; work should begin in spring.

Full Article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/ente...5888875.php#/0