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Residents, convention workers urge council to keep Polk Street open during George R. Brown expansion
Summary
Public speakers at the Houston City Council meeting urged the council to deny abandoning Polk Street for the George R. Brown Convention Center expansion, citing impacts to transit, workers and neighborhoods; multiple speakers asked the city to press Houston First to redesign around the street.
Community members and convention center workers told the Houston City Council that closing Polk Street for the George R. Brown Convention Center expansion would harm downtown employees, volunteers and east-side neighborhoods.
At the council’s public-speaker period, Christina Galvan, who said she has “proudly served for years as both a volunteer and employee at the GRBCC,” urged the council to “please deny the abandonment of Polk Street,” saying the corridor is a daily lifeline for volunteers, employees, vendors and visitors who rely on bus service and ride‑share pickup zones.
Why it matters: speakers said Polk is a primary east–west connector that East End residents, workers and public-transit users depend on. Scott Singleton told the council the plan to close Polk is “uniquely reckless” and warned the timing could hurt Houston’s reputation when major events bring global visitors. Ian Lavachek linked the street to next year’s FIFA World Cup and asked the council to “call Houston First and say, let’s slow this down. Let’s keep Polk open at least through the World Cup.”
Supporters of keeping Polk open described repeated access reductions downtown over the years, and said further closures would push neighborhood residents onto freeways or make routine trips impractical. Karen Lancaster, who said she has lived in the East End for 60 years, told the council she used Polk and other back streets to get downtown in 10 minutes without using a freeway and said closing more streets “creates a wall” between the East End and downtown.
Speakers urged city coordination with Houston First and state agencies. At least one commenter referenced TxDOT plans and urged the council to “design around” Polk rather than abandon it. Other speakers asked Public Works to study additional two‑way conversions on nearby streets to increase access if closures proceed.
The council did not take a vote on Polk Street during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript. Several council members acknowledged the concerns and said they would press Houston First and Public Works for additional analysis and alternatives.
Community members and neighborhood leaders said they will continue to press the city to protect daily access for residents and workers as the convention center project advances.
