thumb|A typical street sign in Greenway Plaza

Greenway Plaza is a business district located along Interstate 69 (U.S. Highway 59) within the Interstate 610 loop in southwestern Houston, Texas, west of Downtown and east of Uptown. The district is located immediately west of Upper Kirby, north of West University Place, and south of River Oaks.

First envisioned in the late 1960s by local developer Kenneth L. Schnitzer, Greenway Plaza has evolved into one of Greater Houston's largest employment centers, with over of office space on a campus. Noted for its expansive green spaces and consistent modernist architectural style, Greenway Plaza is widely considered a pioneering example of mixed-use development in the United States. The campus's ten office towers are connected by an extensive system of air-conditioned skyways, tunnels, and underground parking garages. Lakewood Church purchased the property in 2005. In 2015, Greenway/Upper Kirby had an estimated population of 21,120 and a population density of . envisioned Greenway Plaza, which became the first mixed-use development in Houston.

Century took realtors from outlying towns around Houston and had them buy individual parcels for very inexpensive prices while trying not to attract attention. One homeowner found out about the plan and asked to have the house sold for $350,000. At the time it was a lot of money for a house that was small. The company paid the money so it could secure the tract the house sat on. The grand opening took place in 1973. Schnitzer said that Greenway Plaza would become a "second downtown".

Around 1996<!--22 years means it began leasing in 1996--> T Mobile leased space in 2 Greenway Plaza.

Circa 2003 the Houston Rockets moved out of what was the Compaq Center, and that building became the Lakewood Church Central Campus. Nancy Sarnoff of the Houston Chronicle wrote that the adjacent Greenway Plaza became "sleepy" as a result of this change, and that in 2017 Greenway Plaza had a lack of activity during nighttime periods despite its heavy activity during the day; therefore, according to Sarnoff, Greenway Plaza "feels like downtown Houston did 10 or 20 years ago".

In 2004 Crescent attempted to sell a 50% equity position in both Greenway Plaza and Houston Center. During that year, El Paso Corp., a major tenant with in Greenway Plaza, announced that it was vacating the property and moving its personnel to its Downtown Houston headquarters. A Houston Business Journal article stated that El Paso was expected to sublease the space until 2014, when its lease will expire.

In 2005 the internet service provider Internet America had offices in Greenway Plaza.

During the afternoon of Monday July 29, 2013, Cousins Properties, a company based in Atlanta, announced that it was buying the entire Greenway Plaza complex and a Downtown Fort Worth office tower. Nancy Sarnoff of the Houston Chronicle stated that Cousins was expected to pay $1.1 billion in cash. By 2017 the owner was Parkway Inc., which planned to renovate Greenway Plaza.

Composition

Commercial office buildings

thumb|[[Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston at Suite 2012 of 11 Greenway Plaza]]

{| class="wikitable"

!Building

!Opening date

|-

|Two Greenway Plaza

|1969

|

|

|-

|Three Greenway Plaza

|1971

|

|

|-

|Four Greenway Plaza

|1975

|

|

|-

|Five Greenway Plaza

|1973

|Occidental Petroleum

|

|-

|Eight Greenway Plaza

|1980

|

|

|-

|Nine Greenway Plaza

|1978

|

|

|-

|Eleven Greenway Plaza

|1979

|

|

|-

|Twelve Greenway Plaza

|1981

|

|

|-

|3800 Buffalo Speedway

|1975

|Amerigroup

|

|}

Retail tenants

  • 12 Greenway Plaza
  • Suite 102: Amegy Bank
  • The Hub at Greenway Plaza (formerly The Shops at Greenway) which first opened in 1973
  • Greenway Coffee
  • burger-chan
  • The Rice Box
  • Feges BBQ
  • Nestlé Toll House Cafe
  • Antone's
  • Alonti Cafe
  • Texas Chicken Express
  • Lulu's
  • Cilantro's
  • Michael Saldana Salon
  • Flower Delivery Houston
  • Greenway Newsstand & Convenience Store
  • Energy One Credit Union
  • WellSmiles Dental Office at Greenway Plaza https://www.wellsmilesgreenway.com/

Prior to January 1, 2008, Landmark Theatres operated the Landmark Greenway, an "arthouse" theater inside 5 Greenway. Landmark's lease expired and the Greenway Plaza did not renew the lease. December 31, 2007 was the final day of operation for the theater. As of 2016 it was to be replaced by a fitness area.

Other buildings

  • Doubletree Hotel (6 Greenway) – Previously the Stouffer Hotel and the Renaissance Hotel – Opened 1972 Lanier Middle School, and Lamar High School. It was previously zoned to Will Rogers Elementary School.
  • Lakewood Church Central Campus – formerly the Summit and the Compaq Center – Opened 1975

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References

Further reading

  • Cousins Properties | Press Release: Closes Texas Acquisition
  • Greenway Plaza
  • Greenway Condominiums