| Ion District | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The Ion construction as of December 2020 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Houston, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 29°44′02″N 95°22′57″W / 29.73396°N 95.38259°W |
| Current tenants | Chevron Greentown Labs Microsoft |
| Construction started | 2019 |
| Inaugurated | April 22, 2021 |
| Owner | Rice University |
| Landlord | Rice Management Company |
| Grounds | 16 acres |
| Website | |
| iondistrict houinnovate | |
The Ion District, Ion Innovation District, or Rice Innovation District, is a technology park and innovation district in Midtown Houston which was established as a joint initiative between Rice University and the City of Houston. It has also been called the South Main Innovation District.[1] The district's central hub and first building is the Ion, which opened in 2021 after owner Rice Management Company (RMC) converted it from a former Sears store. The building houses coworking and office spaces, business incubators and accelerators, classrooms, a prototyping lab, investor studio, and restaurants. Current tenants include Chevron Technology Ventures, Microsoft, and Liongard. The district also includes Greentown Labs Houston, a business incubator focused on climate technology and sustainable energy, and a large outdoor plaza.
RMC, a division of Rice University, is leading development of the project. Local students and community members, concerned about , have expressed a range of concerns about the project including housing affordability, food accessibility, employment, and the potential gentrification of the nearby Third Ward, a predominantly African-American community.[2][3] The Ion is located in what was originally Third Ward.[4]
- ^ Leinfelder, Andrea (2019-10-14). "Rice's Ion innovation hub reorganizes, adds new leadership". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
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Breakswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Where the wards are" (PDF). Houston Chronicle. September 7, 2004. pp. E1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-21.