A proposed convenience store and gas station on McGowen Street is scheduled for consideration at Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting. The developer is seeking an exception to rules that apply to the site, ABC13 reported. The proposal is between Milam Street and Travis Street.
How the city rules relate to the proposal
Midtown is one of three Houston neighborhoods designated by the City Council as a Walkable Place. City Planning and Development Department guidance says the rules limit the number and dimensions of driveway cuts on designated streets to preserve on-street parking for public use. The developer’s request for an exception was reported by ABC13.
The preliminary plans include a convenience store and gas station, a canopy, a parking lot and two driveways, according to ABC13. The city’s explanation of driveway-cut standards is available on the Planning and Development Department website.
What nearby residents and organizers say
Brenda Franco, who lives across from the proposed site, told ABC13 she worries the development could make walking nearby less appealing. She moved to the area because she could walk to work and uses a light rail stop about a block from her home. She also fears drivers may use the parking lot to cut through the area.
Alexander Spike, vice president of the Midtown Super Neighborhood organization, told ABC13 the group opposes the proposal. He said residents would prefer a neighborhood grocery or corner store and questioned the need for another gas station, saying five are already within a quarter mile of the site. Spike said the organization supports business and housing growth, including more small businesses, apartments and homes, while urging residents to speak against this project.
Citywide pedestrian-safety context
The available figure is citywide, rather than a count or location breakdown for Midtown: according to the Houston Vision Zero 2022 Annual Report, the city recorded nine more pedestrian deaths and 24 more serious pedestrian injuries in 2022 than in 2021. Those totals provide broader safety context but do not establish how many pedestrian-involved crashes occurred in Midtown or where they were concentrated.
Opponents plan to present their concerns at Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting. The developer told ABC13 the plans are preliminary and it is too early to say what will happen next.
