John R. Breeding

Breeding, who holds his Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (’74) and his Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (’76) from Texas A&M University, has served for the past 36 years as President and CEO of the Uptown Houston District and Administrator of the Uptown Development Authority.

He has established nationally recognized standards for shaping effective partnerships in planning, designing, funding, and executing projects that improve the quality of urban life and incentivizes private development while guiding, operating, and managing the creation of cherished public spaces within Uptown Houston, including the 1,500-acre Memorial Park.

Breeding spearheaded the creation of funding and organizational mechanisms that resulted in Uptown Houston being the first improvement district in the State of Texas and a Tax Increment Financing District. He has established one of the most iconic mixed-use urban destinations in the country and continues to steward the development of infrastructure, beautification, and enhancement of the public realm. This has improved accessibility, created a sense of identity, and provided a foundation for community that is Uptown.

Through Breeding’s guidance, Uptown has provided visionary leadership and acted as a catalyst to bring diverse groups together to address issues facing the community. He led the reimagined Post Oak Boulevard project, including transit and traffic improvements, as well as an enhanced pedestrian environment within the context of a dense urban commercial, entertainment, and luxury residential community.

Breeding has been recognized for his professional, civic, and charitable contributions in the Houston area. In 2020 he was the recipient of Scenic Houston’s “Scenic Visionary Award” and received the 2015 Rice Design Alliance Award for Design Excellence. He currently holds Board positions at Houston Achievement Place and the ULI Houston Advisory Board.