Jordy’s Toilet to be Flushed by Jones Plaza’s New $25 Million Makeover: Much Mocked Theater District Space Gets a Major Boost as Jim Crane Gives $1 Million to Get Things Rolling

At the same time that details were being finalized on the Kinder Foundation’s $70 million grant for the massive Memorial Park makeover, Houston First Corp. revealed a major redo of Jones Plaza, often referred to as Jordy’s Toilet for the questionable tile that was used to frame the space under direction of Jordy Tollett, then head of the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

It will be goodbye turquoise tile, hello green grass, water features, trees and added shade thanks to the $25 million makeover.

Rios Clementi Hale Studios of Los Angeles was selected to create the plan that will transform the forlorn cement-heavy space atop a city parking garage into a welcoming amenity to the downtown Theater District.

The redevelopment of Jones Plaza was first proposed in the 2015 Theater District Master Plan in which it was envisioned as an “immersive arts and culture environment where the vitality of the performing and visual arts spill into the streets, sidewalks and public spaces.”

The international design firm’s plan includes 200 indoor and 80 outdoor seats on two levels. A grand stairway and an elevator will connect the park to Capitol Street.  With theater-goers in mind, Jones Hall and the Alley Theater share perimeters with the space, the plaza will include a two-level indoor/outdoor dining space with casual breakfast and lunch service and pre-theater dinner and post-theater desserts and drinks.

The design will include a proscenium walk with multi-functional media towers that frame the new Center Green space, ideal for a variety of performances and activities.

While the Downtown Redevelopment Authority has contributed $5 million, the project has won a powerful and deep-pocketed friend, Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. He and wife Whitney and the Astros Foundation have chipped in $1 million and the Cranes will lead the campaign to raise the remaining funds.

A statement from the Rios Clementi Hale Studios explains the firm’s creative processes for the project, “Our design concept, called Urban Choreography, celebrates this dual role which Jones Plaza will play in Downtown Houston. It must be an inviting green oasis that contributes to the daily life of downtown residents, workers and visitors — and at the same time, it must flexibly accommodate a wide range of cultural programming and special events.”

Work on the 1.5-acre plaza is set to begin next month with completion expected by late 2020.