The Plant: Harrisburg
Houston, Texas [Greater East End]
Summary
Located at Sampson Street and Harrisburg Boulevard in Houston’s East End, The Plant is Concept Neighborhood’s flagship redevelopment project. Situated along the light rail and major bike corridors, it promotes walkable, community-focused urbanism. This adaptive reuse project transforms industrial buildings into patios, storefronts, and vibrant streetscapes, prioritizing people, not cars. Thoughtful streetscape improvements and creative design interventions activate the public realm and support small businesses. The Plant is home to pioneering local tenants, many of whom live in the neighborhood, including James Beard Award-winning Street to Kitchen, Case Chocolates, Popston popsicles, and The ReUp Juice bar. Each reflects a shared commitment to innovation, authenticity, and community.
"How can adaptive reuse and urban design strategies transform underutilized industrial sites into vibrant, walkable community hubs?"
Project Stats
Project Size:
01.00 Acre
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Project Type:
Urban Redevelopment
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Project Scope:
Schematic Design
Through Construction
Project Status:
Completed - Winter 2025​
Client:
Contractor(s):
Awards:
A Catalyst for East End Transformation
The Plant is a catalytic redevelopment at the corner of Sampson Street and Harrisburg Boulevard, located in Houston’s rapidly transforming East End. Anchored by the expansion of the METRO Rail Green Line and the growing network of on-street bike lanes and trails, this project embraces a walkable, multimodal future. Historically an industrial corridor, the neighborhood is evolving into a vibrant, mixed-use district driven by creative energy, hyper-local entrepreneurship, and public investment. The Plant is Concept Neighborhood’s first offering in the area, intended to reimagine how buildings, businesses, and public space can work together to support an inclusive, community-rooted urban renaissance.
A New Model for Equitable Urban Redevelopment
By blending thoughtful design, adaptive reuse, and neighborhood-led entrepreneurship, The Plant sets a new precedent for equitable and vibrant urban redevelopment in Houston’s East End.
Design interventions at The Plant prioritize people over cars by reshaping the public realm to invite gathering, lingering, and connection. Existing industrial structures have been adaptively reused, transforming underutilized driveways into shaded patios by reestablishing curbs and expanding pedestrian space. These patios activate the sidewalk edge while offering valuable leasable space for small businesses. New landscape elements, including native planting, pedestrian lighting, and wide sidewalks, contribute to a safer, greener, and more human-scaled environment. Retail entries are oriented toward the street and transit, fostering a direct relationship with the public and encouraging foot traffic from the nearby light rail station, bikeways, and surrounding neighborhoods.
The tenant mix at The Plant reflects a bold commitment to innovation, authenticity, and community investment. Most tenants are residents of the East End and have created first-of-their-kind businesses that directly respond to the local culture. Street to Kitchen, a James Beard Award-winning Thai restaurant, celebrates home-style cuisine with a fiery and intimate flair. Case Chocolates introduces the world’s first chocolate and cocktail speakeasy, blending indulgence and experience into one artful destination. Popston offers handmade popsicles crafted in-house with Houston-inspired flavors, while The ReUp Juice bar sources ingredients from regional farms, embodying a farm-to-glass ethos. These businesses do more than serve, they contribute to a local identity rooted in creativity, sustainability, and neighborhood pride.
Schematics
