A sidewalk destination

Will a new Comcast SportsNet studio save the struggling Houston Pavilions?

Mayor Annise Parker addressed the crowd; the turquoise walls behind the podiumwill soon be windows into the television studio.

Photo by Whitney Radley
The group has begun work on plans to develop the first and second floors, makinguse of a 32,000 square foot space at the Houston Pavilions.

Photo by Whitney Radley
Comcast SportsNet Houston president and general manager Matt Hutchings hopes tocreate a better sports experience for fans in the city and throughout theregion.

Photo by Whitney Radley

Mayor Annise Parker, always glad to be the bearer of good news, announced Houston's newest triumph at a windy press conference at the Houston Pavilions on Wednesday.

Parker hinted at a years-long battle against unnamed rival cities for this particular prize: A multi-million dollar television studio and production facility for Comcast SportsNet Houston, a partnership between the Houston Rockets, the Houston Astros and the NBC Sports Group, housed inside of the Pavilions.

Parker admitted that the Pavilions hasn't lived up to original hopes, but says the real estate venture still has potential for future development.

Beyond bringing more exposure to Houston's sports teams, from the high school level to the professional, the studio will create 125 media and technology jobs in downtown Houston. Incentives given by the Market Square Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 will be more than offset, says Parker, by a boost of business to downtown area shops and restaurants.

"We aren't shy about saying that downtown has unlimited growth potential," Parker said. She admitted the Pavilions hasn't lived up to original hopes, but says the real estate venture still has potential for future development — and the new two-story, 32,000 square foot studio will bring the struggling Pavilions nearer to full occupancy.

Matt Hutchings, Comcast SportsNet Houston president and general manager, says that the group wanted to return to the roots of regional sports coverage, with a "boots on the ground" approach for increased investment in the local community.

Just steps away from the light rail, and down the street from the George R. Brown as well as three nearby stadiums, the studio's street level viewing area is poised to become a destination in itself — akin to the sidewalks outside of NBC's Today Show at Rockefeller Center.

"We're going to continue to be aggressive and competitive in sports," Parker told the crowd, implying that the city will work just as hard behind closed doors to bring more sporting events to Houston as the players do on the court and the field.

Expect Houston sports fans to crowd outside the studio by fall 2012.

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renter livability report

New study ranks Houston as one of the worst places for renters in U.S.

Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

Houston flopped toward the bottom as one of the worst places for renters in the nation.

Renters looking for a place in Texas that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to look outside of Houston, which was just named the 144th "best" city to rent in America.

Houston's rental market apparently leaves much to be desired, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Hot Dallas suburb Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

The report said Houston has the 120th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, and the city ranked 127th nationally in the "renter market and affordability" category. Ouch.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Houston residents know their city better than a study ever could, so they can decide if the city's renter market isn't up to par. A separate RentCafe study found the city has become a magnet for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools. And now that local rent prices are declining, things might be starting to look up for Houston renters.

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include:

No. 24 – El Paso
No. 34 – Grand Prairie
No. 37 – Laredo
No. 48 – Brownsville
No. 49 – Arlington
No. 50 – Fort Worth
No. 63 – Corpus Christi
No. 64 – San Antonio
No. 66 – Irving
No. 79 – Garland
No. 81 – Lubbock

wallethub reports rent report renting real estate