Turning Legacy Into Economic Opportunity
In Houston’s historic Third Ward, a neighborhood once celebrated for its thriving Black-owned businesses and cultural richness, a powerful story of renewal is unfolding. Project Row Houses (PRH) — a community-driven arts and cultural organization — is using creativity, mentorship, and economic support to revitalize the Third Ward, turning it into a hub of entrepreneurship and cultural expression that benefits Black residents directly.
Long overshadowed by gentrification and underinvestment, Third Ward is reclaiming its narrative through programs that provide affordable commercial space, business mentorship, and marketing support for Black-owned ventures rooted in community culture and wellness.
A Legacy of Creativity and Community
Project Row Houses was established in 1993 with a mission to support artists and preserve the cultural identity of Third Ward. Today, it has grown into a multifaceted platform that nurtures Black business leaders and community wellness initiatives — even as other parts of the neighborhood grapple with rising rents and commercial displacement.
This year’s cohort in the PRH Business Residency Program reflects a wide range of talents and visions, including:
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Third Ward Blooms, bringing floral arts and local gardening education to the neighborhood;
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Piano Vibes, making music more accessible through instruction and performance;
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Back to Naturel, offering natural health and beauty products;
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Come Bee, a space focused on community wellness and cultural experiences.
These ventures are more than businesses — they are expressions of community heritage and wellness, giving residents services they value while lifting up local creatives and entrepreneurs.
Investing in People and Place
What makes Project Row Houses special is its focus on people first. The Business Residency Program doesn’t just offer space — it provides mentorship, marketing help, and stipends to support operations and community engagement. Residents can spend up to three years developing their enterprises in an environment designed for collaboration and cultural sustainability.
In a time when national support for minority-owned businesses has wavered, localized models like PRH show how community investment — when paired with strategic resources — can restore vibrancy to historic Black neighborhoods.
Third Ward’s Cultural Renaissance
Third Ward’s revitalization isn’t just economic; it’s cultural. Artists, musicians, wellness practitioners, and small business owners are weaving new life into historic streets once defined by adversity and erasure. The work of Project Row Houses honors that legacy while building pathways for future Black creatives and business leaders.
The involvement of cultural figures like Solange Knowles — who has publicly honored Third Ward’s institutions — is further testament to the area’s growing national recognition.
A Model Worth Celebrating
At Uptown Sunday, we lift up community-centered solutions that generate opportunity from within. Project Row Houses demonstrates how returning agency to Black communities — by providing affordable space, economic mentorship, and cultural affirmation — can transform neighborhoods once written off by disinvestment.
Third Ward’s renaissance reminds us that when Black creativity, commerce, and culture are centered together, communities flourish.
🖤 Here’s to Third Ward, to Project Row Houses, and to every Black entrepreneur and artist shaping legacy from the ground up.
