Collective Mission

To serve as a catalyst to create, preserve and enhance value by developing an urban community of uncommon beauty, gracious character, and dynamic spirit. This is achieved by:

  • Creating a memorable and inviting urban environment.
  • Supporting continued economic expansion.
  • Improving Accessibility.

Uptown TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #16)

The City of Houston designated Uptown as a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) in 1999. The Uptown TIRZ developed a plan that mitigates traffic congestion, encourages new development, and grows the area’s tax base.  In 2013, the City of Houston expanded the TIRZ boundaries to include Memorial Park and extended its life by 11 years to 2040.

The Zone is governed by a nine-member board composed of individuals who are appointed by the City of Houston (6), HISD (1), the State Representative for the area (1), and the State Senator for the Area (1).

Uptown Development Authority

The Uptown Development Authority is a non-profit, local government corporation created to act as a funding and contracting conduit for the Uptown TIRZ.  The Development Authority acts on behalf of the TIRZ in issuing bonds, letting contracts, and hiring consultants in connection with various TIRZ Projects.  The Development Authority is governed by a board of directors that has the same membership as the TIRZ Board.

Uptown TIRZ/UDA Board of Directors

The Zone is governed by an nine-member board composed of individuals who own property within the Zone or are the employees or agents of Zone property owners.  Zone board members are appointed by the City of Houston (6), HISD (1), the State Representative for the area (1), and the State Senator for the Area (1). The Development Authority is governed by a board of directors that has the same membership as the TIRZ Board.

Steve Lerner

Steve Lerner serves as the CEO of TRC Ventures, LP and TRC Capital Partners, LLC. Steve previously held the position of Executive Vice President of The Redstone Companies, L.P. and served as an Executive Vice President of numerous Redstone-related entities. Prior to joining Redstone full time in 1998, Steve was a partner at the Houston law firm now known as Schlanger, Silver, Barg & Paine, LLP.

Steve graduated with honors in Government from the University of Texas and is an honors graduate of the University Of Texas School Of Law in Austin, where he was a member of The Texas Law Review. He was appointed to the Uptown Houston District Board of Directors in 2009.

Louis Sklar

Louis S. Sklar worked for Hines for more than 35 years and   served as the Executive Vice President of Development and Operations. He also served as a Director for AIM Funds-Houston from 1989-2004. 

Louis is an active member in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Herman Park Conservancy, Real Estate Committee of the Menil Foundation, Reinvestment Zone #16, Scenic Houston and the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business.

Louis served as a United States Naval Line Officer and received a Bachelor’s degree from Rice University. He was appointed to, and has served on, the Uptown Houston TIRZ Board of Directors since 1999.

Robert Clay

Robert Clay has been in real estate since his graduation from Texas A&M in 1989. He began his career with United Equities, Inc., a medium sized industrial and retail firm in Houston, focusing on construction supervision, property management and leasing. After four years at United Equities, he moved on to Moody Rambin Interests, Inc. where his attentions were directed to project leasing and construction supervision.

Robert’s key role at Clay is business development, project negotiation and project bidding.

Dorothy “Dot” Cunningham

Dorothy “Dot” Cunningham a resident of Uptown Houston, served as a former President / Co-Owner of an Insurance Company for more than 20 years.

Skilled in management, fund raising, family mediation, managing political campaigns, special events and public relations, Dot is also extensively involved in numerous charitable / educational / civic associations in Houston, Dallas and Washington.

Under the Ronald Regan Administration, Dot was appointed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Today, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Be An Angel Fund, Inc., a charity improving the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities and profound deafness.

A graduate of the University of Houston with Graduate studies at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, Dot is married with four children and seven grandchildren. Dot was appointed to the Uptown Houston TIRZ Board of Directors by Senator Dan Patrick in 2007.

Ethel Johnson

Ethel J. Johnson represents clients across the United States in the areas of labor and employment law, pharmaceutical/products liability and life sciences litigation. 

Her labor and employment practice include discrimination and retaliation matters, wage and hour class/collective actions, complex employment litigation, employee benefits litigation, noncompetition/nondisclosure matters, and labor arbitrations. Her work spans multiple industries and sectors, including energy, life sciences and biotechnology, financial services and banking, telecommunications, and transportation.

Ethel has been recognized as a leading employment lawyer by publications that include Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Human Resource Executive Magazine, and Lawdragon. She is also active in numerous organizations and frequently speaks at employment-related seminars.

Before practicing law, Ethel was a telecommunications engineer for Electronic Data Systems.  Ethel is a graduate of University of Texas School of Law and Siena Heights College with a B.S. Electronics Engineering.

Kendall Miller

Kendall Miller is President of Tanglewood Corporation, a family-owned business that develops and manages various properties in the Houston-area, including the Tanglewood Center and Post Oak Shopping Center.

Kendall is a graduate of Texas A&M University and received his Master’s degree from the University of Texas. Among his many civil activities, he is Chairman of the Harris County Improvement District No. 1, as well as serving on the Uptown TIRZ/Uptown Development Authority. He is also a Trustee of the Houston Business Coalition and past President of the “C” Club. He has served on the boards of The Bank of Tanglewood, The Park People and the Post Oak YMCA.

Kendall was appointed to the Uptown Houston TIRZ Board of Directors in 2003. He resides in Houston with his wife and their three young sons.

Judson Robinson, III

Judson W. Robinson, III is the President and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner for Harris County Precinct 2; and from 1991 to 1997, Judson served the City of Houston as the Vice Mayor Pro Tem and as City Council Member at Large Position 5.  While serving on City Council, Judson chaired numerous committees including the Committee on Redevelopment and Revitalization, Committee on Fiscal Affairs, Committee on Minority and Women Owned Business and the Committee on Regulatory Affairs, among others.

In addition, Judson serves on various local, state and national political organizations, civic and community boards and various leadership organizations.  A graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Judson is married and has three children. He was appointed to the Uptown Houston TIRZ Board of Directors in 1999.

Lisa Simon

Lisa Morris Simon is President of MFT Interests, GP, LLC, a family-owned, commercial real estate investment business.  Former chairman of the Board for Southern National Bank, Lisa Simonhas spearheaded the vision, planning and construction projects of the Southern National Bank headquarters building, Southern National Office Building, and the institution’s branches in Uptown Houston and Katy, Texas.

A graduate of Houston Baptist University and a former freelance photographer, Lisa has successfully chaired numerous fundraising events for organizations, including Fort Bend Partnership for Youth, Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research, Houston Baptist University and the American Cancer Society Fort Bend. She currently serves on the Boards of Memorial Hermann Foundation, Houston Baptist University, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Board in Lynchburg, Virginia, The Museum of Southern History, The Oldham Little Church Foundation, and has served as President of the Rivercrest Civic Association for the last four years. She also has served on many other civic and charitable organizations.  Lisa was appointed to the Uptown Houston TIRZ Board of Directors in 2002.

J. Randall Powers

Uptown TIRZ / UDA Board of Directors Meetings

The Uptown Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #16 (TIRZ) and the Uptown Development Authority meet the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. (unless otherwise stated on the agenda).  Meetings are held at:

1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77056

The meeting notices and agenda are posted 72 hours prior to the meeting date at Houston City Hall Public Bulletin Board.

901 Bagby
Houston, Texas 77002

Meetings/Agendas (also available on YouTube)