Downtown Houston, TX

Considered to be the largest business district in the city of Houston, TX, Downtown Houston is popular for its amazing skyline, rivaling those of Chicago, Miami and New York City. As the heart of the city, it is home to large corporations, many of which belong to the list of the Fortune 500 Companies. Surprisingly, Downtown Houston provides its residents an amazing collection of recreational and cultural sites as well as a variety of residential options.

Downtown Houston boasts of a unique blend of old and new architecture. Many skyscrapers and mid-rise office structures were constructed since the 1960s and have become solid proof of the thriving business district.  The oldest skyscraper, One Shell Plaza, dates back to the 1970s and many others were constructed after it including the JPMorgan Chase Tower, Wells Fargo Bank Plaza, Texaco Heritage Plaza and the Enron Centers. With the hundreds of businesses located in the district, employees do not encounter any problems moving about especially with the extensive skywalks and tunnel system.

To create balance, Downtown Houston has several beautiful parks where residents can enjoy hours of fun and relaxation. These parks include the Sam Houston Park, home to the Houston heritage Society; Tranquility Park, which is filled with interconnected fountains; Sesquicentennial Park and many more.

In addition to these parks, there is also the Houston Theater District, which is famous for having permanent performing arts companies under all the major disciplines. These include the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, The Alley Theatre and the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Many shows are held in the very popular Bayou Place, an entertainment complex with multiple theaters, restaurants and bars. Notable areas of sining and entertainment in this complex include the Angelika Film Center and Café, Hard Rock Café, Verizon Wireless theater and the ROCBAR (Rock and Roll Bar).

The downtown area of Houston is also home to the Minute Maid Park, a baseball stadium. It was built to house the Houston Astros baseball team and was opened in 2000. The ballpark is popular for its retractable roof, which effectively protects all athletes and fans; closed captioning board designed for the hearing impaired and paid access to Wi-Fi services.

Another great sports venue is the Toyota Center, which houses three Houston sports teams: the Houston Aeros (AHL), Houston Comets (WNBA) and the Houston Rockets (NBA). The center was built in 2002 to replace the Compaq Center and can seat up to 19,000 people. There are also 10,000 parking slots located just a stone’s throw away from the center. The Toyota Center has already received numerous prestigious awards including the Allen Award for Civic Enhancement and Harlem Globetrotters’ “Rookie of the Year”. It is not the least bit surprising that the center recorded 1.5 million visitors during its first year. Among the many artists that performed here are Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton, Keith Urban and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

With all these amazing sights and sounds, it is not surprising that Downtown Houston has become a favorite among many tourists. City dwellers, on the other hand, get to enjoy a lifestyle that is filled with new experiences and exciting adventures. Residential options include high-rise condos, lofts and apartment buildings as well as stylish condominium units. Living in close proximity to such modern conveniences and amazing places of interest will surely be convenient, fun and educational.