Retrofit Atlas

Malls · Texas

Palm Center

Imported, unreviewedReinhabitedRegreenedOperatingHouston, TX

Opened 1955. Closed 1984. Reinhabited · Regreened in 1987.

Status nowOperatingextracted, unreviewed
documented
The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas.

en.wikipedia.org

What it becamehealthcare, education, civic, park, retail, officeextracted, unreviewed reported
Site size26 acresextracted, unreviewed
documented
the 26-acre (11 ha) complex

en.wikipedia.org

Retrofit year1987extracted, unreviewed reported
Walkability16.5 of 20 · 15-minute 5 of 6EPA, OpenStreetMap
Rail within 800 mYesOpenStreetMap, HUD
Ask who owns this Download dossier (PDF) · early access Download record (JSON) API Share LinkedIn Correct this record

Solid = from the authors' map · outlined = public source · dashed = model-written, not yet reviewed by a person. Tap any value's source label to see where it came from. documented = a quoted excerpt (click to read it) · reported = a source named, no excerpt yet · no source.

Palm Center
Palm Center. Photo: WhisperToMe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Site profile25 elements · what this retrofit is built with · tap a chip for the evidence

Former anchors
WoolworthThis site: Woolworth wikipedia · all sites with this
Finance and pipeline
On FacebookThis site: …https://www.facebook.com/122372457826595 overture · all sites with this
Website dead or redirectingThis site: …https://www.palmcenter.fsu.edu/ overture / http check · all sites with this
Ownership
Public bodyThis site: City of Houston county-parcels · all sites with this
Place
100k+ jobs within 45 min by transitThis site: 429,318 epa-walkability · all sites with this
15-minute neighbourhood (5+ of 6 daily needs within 800 m)This site: 5/6 openstreetmap · all sites with this
200+ tax-credit housing units within 1 kmThis site: 222 units in 1 properties hud-lihtc · all sites with this
3+ other atlas sites within 10 kmThis site: 8 within 10 km computed · all sites with this
County permitting 2,000+ apartment units a yearThis site: 8,623 units, Harris County census-bps · all sites with this
Grocery within 800 mThis site: 1 stores openstreetmap · all sites with this
High social vulnerability tract (SVI ≥ 0.75)This site: 0.89 cdc-svi · all sites with this
High tornado riskThis site: Relatively High fema-nri · all sites with this
Lower-income tract (< $50k)This site: $39,382 census-acs · all sites with this
Rail within 800 mThis site: Palm Center Transit Center openstreetmap · all sites with this
Renter-majority tractThis site: 76% census-acs · all sites with this
Tract population up 25%+ since 2013This site: +30% census-acs · all sites with this
Walkable block group (EPA ≥ 12)This site: …index 16.5 epa-walkability · all sites with this
Policy tool
Public grant or loanThis site: …loans made by the federal government The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly kn extraction · all sites with this
Strategy
RegreenedThis site: The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas. extraction · all sites with this
ReinhabitedThis site: The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas. extraction · all sites with this
New use
Civic and governmentThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
EducationThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
OfficeThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
Park and open spaceThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
Retail (continued)This site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this

All elements and lists · Trends

Now

StatusOperatingextracted, unreviewed
documented
The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas.

en.wikipedia.org

StrategyReinhabited · Regreenedextracted, unreviewed
documented
includes a 268,000 square feet former shopping center, which is one story tall, and the Park at Palm Center (PAPC). Tenants include small businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits.

en.wikipedia.org

New useshealthcare, education, civic, park, retail, officeextracted, unreviewed reported
What is there nowThe Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas.extracted, unreviewed
documented
The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas.

en.wikipedia.org

Retrofit year1987extracted, unreviewed reported
RedeveloperCity of Houstonextracted, unreviewed reported

Planning

Public purchase or subsidyloans made by the federal governmentextracted, unreviewed
documented
In 1987 the city began to redevelop Palm Center to attract small businesses as part of the Target of Opportunity program, funded by loans made by the federal government.

en.wikipedia.org

Entitlement year1987extracted, unreviewed reported

Securitised debt and public filers

Filings (2001 to date) that name “Palm Center” and “Houston” (22 hits, first 22 sampled, 5 other filers such as tenants left out). Only weak matches to commercial-mortgage trusts: the mall may have backed a securitised loan, or may just be mentioned in the filing; several trusts usually means one loan split into pari-passu notes. Earliest trust filing in the sample 2007-09-14 (a sample date, not the issuance date); candidate loan vintage 2007 from the trust name (weak match). Whether the loan is still in the pool, in special servicing or repaid is in the trust's monthly distribution reports, which are not searchable here. Text matches, not a title search. Open the search · all trusts.

KindFilerFilingsDatesForms
CMBS trust (weak)LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C632007-09-14 to 2007-10-128-K 2, 8-K/A 1
Public owner (weak)Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.32013-04-02 to 2013-09-168-K 1, 10-K 1, 10-Q 1
Public owner (weak)AMERICAN MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE CO12002-04-01 to 2002-04-0110-K 1

Site context

Transit within 800 mPalm Center Transit Center (rail)OpenStreetMap
Motorway junctions within 2 km34A, 35, 36A, junctionOpenStreetMap
FEMA flood zoneX · AREA OF MINIMAL FLOOD HAZARDFEMA NFHL
EPA-regulated facilities within 500 m2: EARL SCHEIB OF TEXAS INC; THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANYEPA FRS
Census tract 482013134003,598 people, 4,987 per sq mi; median household income $39,382; median gross rent $1,208; 76% renters; 10.8% vacant units; 7.2% commute by transitACS 2023 5-year
Walkability (EPA, block group)index 16.5 of 20; 109 intersections per sq mi; nearest transit stop 365 m; land-use mix 0.71; 355,048 jobs within 45 min by car, 429,318 by transit; 14% of households without a carEPA Smart Location
Within a 10–15 minute walk (800 m)5 of 6 daily needs: 1 grocers, 1 schools, 2 parks or playgrounds, 0 health, 3 civic, 1 food and drink; 0 cycleway segments, 16 sidewalk-tagged segmentsOpenStreetMap
Opportunity ZonenoHUD
Housing permits, Harris County (TX), 20248,623 units in 5+ unit buildings, 1,226 in 2–4, 20,087 single-family; 2023: 13,263 in 5+Census BPS
Social vulnerability (CDC SVI 2022, tract)overall percentile 0.89; socioeconomic 0.96; housing and transport 0.64; 34% below 150% of poverty; 30% of households with no vehicleCDC/ATSDR
Other atlas sites nearby8 within 10 km, 18 within 25 km: Gulfgate Mall (3.8 km); Ion (6.3 km); Greentown Labs Houston (7.7 km); Georgian apartments (7.7 km); Power Center (7.7 km)computed
Overture Mapsplace Palm Center (community_center, confidence 0.86, from Overture, Overture-signals, meta); building footprint 8,327 m², 8.1 mOverture (CDLA-Permissive 2.0)
Website and socialwww.palmcenter.fsu.edu (down or redirecting, status 0) · social: facebookOverture / Internet Archive
Attention: Wikipedia page views19,067 since 2015; 1,245 in the last 12 months (-9% vs the prior 12); peak 2015-07 with 253Wikimedia
Tract change 2013–2023population +30% (2,774 → 3,598); median income +29% ($30,589 → $39,382); renters 62% → 76%; median home value +92% ($63,400 → $121,400)Census ACS 5-year
Natural hazard risk (FEMA National Risk Index, tract)relatively moderate overall (score 68.7); expected annual loss $1.5M; high: tornado; community resilience very lowFEMA NRI
Tax-credit housing within 1 km1 LIHTC properties, 222 units: Village At Palm Center (222 units)HUD LIHTC
Retail trade in the county, 2025 (BLS QCEW)210,476 jobs in 13,134 establishments; average annual pay $44,568; employment location quotient 0.87; employment -0.8% on the yearBLS QCEW 2025, NAICS 44-45, private
Jobs located in the tract, 2022790 jobs; 138 in retail trade, 0 in accommodation and food (workplace blocks summed to tract 48201313400)Census LEHD LODES8 WAC 2022
Upward mobility (Opportunity Atlas, 2010 tract)children of low-income (25th percentile) families reached the 32th income percentile as adults; 5.9% incarcerated at the 2010 count (597 children in the sample); born 1978–83, measured 2014–15Opportunity Insights
Food access (USDA FARA 2019, 2010 tract)not a low-access tract at 1 mile; poverty rate 25.5%; median family income $42,321; 335 SNAP householdsUSDA ERS
SchoolsHouston Independent School District (PK-12); 8 public schools within 1 mile: BEATRICE MAYES INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL; YES PREP - SOUTHSIDE; SOUTHSIDE EL; KIPP PEACE ELNCES EDGE
Elevation38 ft above sea level at the site pointUSGS 3DEP
Storm events in the county, 2016-2025489 county-logged events: 176 thunderstorm wind, 143 hail, 92 flash flood, 33 tornado; $10,324,991,000 property damage reported; 54 direct deaths; forecast-zone events (most flood, winter and heat) not countedNOAA Storm Events
Homes for sale in ZIP 77021, 2026-09median list price $285,550 (-14.7% on the year); 203 active listings; median 64 days on market; 15% with a price cutRealtor.com Research
Retail trade in the county, 2012 to 202313,613 establishments (+8%); 213,745 jobs (+11%)Census CBP
Housing market in the countytypical home value $276,524 (-2% 1 yr, +11% 5 yr); typical rent $1,583/mo (-0% 1 yr), 2026-09Zillow Research
Traffic on the busiest road within 600 m (2024)10,664 vehicles a day (minor arterial, 6 lanes); 5 counted segmentsFHWA HPMS

Summary, model-written

Palm Center opened in 1955 as a mall with 41 stores and closed in 1984. Beginning in 1987 the City of Houston led a retrofit, reinhabiting and regreening the site into a mixed‑use services complex. It now operates as the Palm Center Business and Technology Center.

Why. not stated in the record

Where it stands. Palm Center is currently operating as a municipally owned services complex under the City of Houston.

For a planner

  • Municipal ownership enabled long‑term public‑led redevelopment
  • Federal loan subsidies supported the 1987 retrofit
  • The site follows a reinhabit/regreen strategy mixing healthcare, education, civic, park, retail, and office uses
  • Open question: how to sustain mixed‑use viability given limited private market signals

For a developer

  • 26‑acre site under full municipal control
  • Entitlement secured in 1987, ready for development
  • No flood, transit, or environmental constraints listed in the record
  • Market indicators show low opportunity score due to existing build‑out and modest county growth (3.4% 2018‑23)

What we do not know yet

  • Anchor tenant losses, competition, and debt details are not provided
  • Context layers such as floodplain, transit access, and environmental conditions are missing
  • Current tenant mix, lease terms, and financial performance are unknown
  • Verification status is 'draft', indicating some facts may be model‑extracted and unreviewed
  • Parcel‑level ownership or subdivision details are not specified

Generated by nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b on NVIDIA API via Hermes CT from the fields, parcels, deals and context layers on this page, with no outside knowledge. It is regenerated when the record changes and has not been checked by a person. How it is made.

Similar sites

Elsewhere on the web

Pages with photos

Search images: Google · Bing · Commons · references: ULI case studies · Google Scholar

Multifamily screen

  • retrofit already built
  • 26 acres
  • county grew 3.4% 2018–23
  • public owner

Inputs: record fields (size, status) and county Census ACS 2018–2023 figures (growth, rent). How the points work. Not a recommendation.

History and original facts

Opened1955extracted, unreviewed
Closed1984extracted, unreviewed
documented
The J.C. Penney, the final tenant, closed in 1984.

en.wikipedia.org

Acres26.0extracted, unreviewed
documented
the 26-acre (11 ha) complex

en.wikipedia.org

Stores at peak41extracted, unreviewed reported
Original developerOscar Holcombe and Sterling T. Hogan Sr.extracted, unreviewed
documented
Oscar Holcombe and Sterling T. Hogan Sr. had the shopping center built

en.wikipedia.org

ArchitectIrving R. Klein & Associates
AnchorsWalgreens, Woolworth, J.C. Penney, Oshman's
CountyHarris County
Census division7 · West South Central
NotesWikipedia categories: Defunct shopping malls in the United States

Not yet recorded: GLA. Know it? Tell us.

Background

The Palm Center Business and Technology Center, commonly known as Palm Center, is a municipally owned services complex in southeast Houston, Texas. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) from NRG Stadium and is in proximity to the Third Ward area.

Excerpt from Wikipedia (authors and history), CC BY-SA 4.0. May be older than the record above.

Timeline

  1. 1955 Opened as Palms Center
  2. 1969 Helmsley-Spear acquired Palm Center
  3. 1987 City began redevelopment of Palm Center
  4. 1989 Small business center opened
  5. 1992 City entered MOU with HBDi for redevelopment management
  6. 1993 Center received current name; HBDi began management
  7. 1994 10 start-up offices and 25 other offices available
  8. 1996 HSBDC became nonprofit management organization
  9. 2008 Groundbreaking for Houston Texans YMCA
  10. 2011 Opening of Houston Texans YMCA scheduled

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Palm Center (Houston) · supports: acres, after notes, original developer, public subsidy, status, strategy, year closed, year opened
    18 quoted sentences
    It opened as the Palms Center in September 1955.
    The J.C. Penney, the final tenant, closed in 1984.
    the 26-acre (11 ha) complex
    Oscar Holcombe and Sterling T. Hogan Sr. had the shopping center built

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