Houston City Council approves Polk Street closure for George R. Brown expansion
With Polk Street set to close, many East End residents say the loss of this critical route into downtown will make commutes longer and further isolate their community.

The Houston City Council has voted 14-1 to permanently close a section of Polk Street in downtown —a move that clears the way for the George R. Brown Convention Center’s major expansion and ties into TxDOT’s massive I-45 rebuild.
Council Member Edward Pollard was the only one to vote no, saying he was concerned about the impact on the community.
INITIAL REPORT: Polk Street closure on the table as GRB expansion and I-45 rebuild reshape downtown traffic
For many East End residents, Polk is a critical route into downtown. Neighbors say losing it will make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
Pollard told residents in the meeting, “You deserve to have a vote in your favor… so my vote today will represent your efforts. I don’t want you to think based on the vote that you haven’t been heard.”
Last week, dozens of residents packed City Hall, urging council members to reject the proposal. They argue that large-scale projects like this have repeatedly come at their expense — from freeway construction to other city developments — cutting them off from key parts of Houston while promising “progress” that hasn’t benefited everyone equally.
Houston First Corporation, which is leading the convention center expansion, defends the plan. The organization says closing Polk is essential to transforming the George R. Brown and is designed to align with TxDOT’s ongoing I-45 reconstruction project.
According to a traffic study commissioned by Houston First, nearly 50 intersections in the area would see “minimal delays” even with Polk closed.
To address concerns, Houston First says it plans to make Leeland Street a two-way road within the next year to keep access open between downtown and the East End. CEO Michael Heckman said in the meeting that the project is already funded in the budget.