Business leaders in an area once dubbed “Gunspoint” for its lawlessness are targeting Scottish firms looking to set up in Houston.
Greenspoint district, 15 miles north of central Houston, has put its shady history firmly behind it after major redevelopment and reduced crime levels encouraged new businesses to move in.
Today, the area is said to be no more dangerous than any other part of America’s energy capital and far safer than many.
Serious crime rates for Greenspoint have fallen by 56% since 1991, while the population and employment are up by 62% and 130% respectively.
Economic development bosses hope to attract expanding businesses from north-east Scotland, and Greenspoint district is now a member of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. The district also sponsored the recent Aberdeen Houston Gateway event, bringing together businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Chief development officer Regina Lindsey was there to highlight the opportunities at Greenspoint, whose current tenants include north-east energy service firm Downhole Products. “Houston and Aberdeen have so many similarities,” she told the Press and Journal, adding: “Both are almost entirely dependent on the oil and gas sector. We felt an exploratory visit to Aberdeen was in order.”
Greenspoint comprises more than 18million square feet of office, retail and industrial space over 12 square miles.
It is home to about 4,400 businesses, including US oil firm ExxonMobil and energy service giants Baker Hughes, Halliburton and Schlumberger, employing around 66,000 people.
Ms Lindsey said the Gunspoint nickname was consigned to the history books, adding: “There was an issue with crime back in the 1980s but there was an incredibly successful programme to address it.”
Greenspoint had a reputation as a hotspot for shootings, car thefts and other crimes during the 1980s and early 90s.
In 1991, an off-duty deputy sheriff was found dead in her burned-out car in the area following her abduction and murder.
The incident helped cement the area’s unfortunate nickname, Gunspoint.
Police responded with a series of sting operations aimed at rounding up wanted criminals. Local businesses and property owners formed a management district that paid for a police substation, officers’ salaries and equipment. Crime rates plunged by 42% between 1991 and 2007, and millions of pounds of regeneration has transformed the area from its bad old days.