CRERF Luncheon at Central Houston

Today I made my first drive (alone!) to downtown since moving to Houston for the CRERF luncheon at Central Houston, Inc. Laura Van Ness, director of Central Houston's business development program, shared what's new downtown along with the latest proprietary office market research and developments news. I've decided to share a few of the most interesting tid bits of information shared.

• There are roughly 140,000 employees condensed within the 1.8 square miles and 44,000,000 square feet of office space downtown.
• 48% of those employees drive alone to work and park in the 100,000 parking spaces available while 29% utilize Park & Ride.
• The Downtown District developed the Downtown Public Safety Guide Program to focus on hospitality and safety solutions and ensure that residents, workers, and visitors feel safe and have an enjoyable downtown experience. Guides focus on (excerpted from the DPSG brochure):
• Deterring crime by reporting problems to the proper authorities
• Discouraging aggressive panhandling
• Assisting the homeless population in distress by connecting them with social services
• Checking in on businesses
• On-street concierge services, assisting visitors, residents and workers with maps, directions and information on where to go, what to do and how to get there. (wish I'd known to look for the teal and yellow uniforms while trying to navigate my way around downtown)
• The Six in the City program offers $6 cab rides anywhere downtown.
• For $4.50 one-way, you can utilize the Airport Direct route system downtown to travel to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Terminal C.

Tomorrow I'll be attending the HRBC Breakfast as well as the CCIM Luncheon so keep a look out for me and jump in front of the REDNews camera to be included in our Networking Photos on our website and in an issue of REDNews.