Will Houston proper ever reach 3 million without annexation?

[azin88]

What do people mean far north need some developing? It looks developed from downtown all the way to North Conroe. There may be undeveloped areas but it’s not much. If I-45 was to be rebuilt, the whole area from downtown to Beltway will change and kicking out the lower income communities to somewhere else.

West Houston is definitely the most developed from downtown to Katy but that’s it. After that, plenty of undeveloped areas after Katy Mills area which is about 35 miles from downtown. Undeveloped areas in the North would be passed North Conroe which is 50 miles from downtown. That tells you how developed the North is compared to West Houston. West Houston just happens to have higher population density.

I’ve noticed South side from I-610 is pretty much nothing out there. I was surprised to see how busy it is from downtown to I-610 and then bam! It’s nothing after. Same for East Houston.

I do think Houston city proper will reach 3 million easily with the crazy growth it is having in I-610 area.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by azin88

What do people mean far north need some developing? It looks developed from downtown all the way to North Conroe. There may be undeveloped areas but it’s not much. If I-45 was to be rebuilt, the whole area from downtown to Beltway will change and kicking out the lower income communities to somewhere else.

West Houston is definitely the most developed from downtown to Katy but that’s it. After that, plenty of undeveloped areas after Katy Mills area which is about 35 miles from downtown. Undeveloped areas in the North would be passed North Conroe which is 50 miles from downtown. That tells you how developed the North is compared to West Houston. West Houston just happens to have higher population density.

I’ve noticed South side from I-610 is pretty much nothing out there. I was surprised to see how busy it is from downtown to I-610 and then bam! It’s nothing after. Same for East Houston.

I do think Houston city proper will reach 3 million easily with the crazy growth it is having in I-610 area.

There's actually quite a few large undeveloped tracts remaining between Aldine and Spring Creek.

[azin88]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

There's actually quite a few large undeveloped tracts remaining between Aldine and Spring Creek.

That's what I thought. It's not as much as I thought, I guess. Compared to South or East Houston, there's a lot more development beyond Grand Parkway on the North side, there's a reason why they had to build it there while South Houston had to expand South Sam Houston Tollway and there's no Grand Parkway on the south side yet and probably not for another 10 years. No wonder why I-45 is very busy beyond North Conroe.

[MrJester]

So, now the question is, how far beyond 3 million do you think Houston proper (without annexation) will reach?

And do you think Houston will reach 3 million by 2030?

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by MrJester

So, now the question is, how far beyond 3 million do you think Houston proper (without annexation) will reach?

And do you think Houston will reach 3 million by 2030?

Much depends on whether the oil and gas industry some level of health. Outside of medicine, Houston hasn't developed a primary industry base that really shows the potential for strong employment growth. The petrochemical industry has generated construction jobs with plant construction, but those plants have surprisingly few permanent jobs. If O&G enters a period of prolonged stagnation, which is not out of the question, the region's population growth will eventually have to slow, and the City's population will as well.