On April 26th, the West Houston Association hosted a forum on Building Resilience Through Sustainable Infrastructure to explore how we can build a stronger, more adaptive future. The event emphasized that resilience and sustainability are not competing priorities but two sides of the same coin — and that the most successful projects intentionally overlap the two.
Alan Steinberg, President and CEO of the West Houston Association, opened the forum by framing sustainable infrastructure as essential to West Houston’s continued prosperity. As the region grows, investing in durable, adaptive systems is key to maintaining quality of life, protecting natural resources, and ensuring economic competitiveness.
The panel featured Harry Thompson, Partner at ABHR and Chair of WHA’s Sustainable Infrastructure Committee; Lisa Graiff, Senior Capital Projects Manager at the Houston Parks Board; and Priya Zachariah, Chief Resilience Officer for the Harris County Flood Control District. Each panelist offered distinct insights grounded in real-world projects and experiences, demonstrating that while the language of resilience and sustainability can differ, the ultimate goals are aligned.
Natalie Chaney, Texas Stormwater & Sustainable Infrastructure Lead at Tetra Tech, moderated the discussion, asking panelists to reflect on the intersections between sustainability, resilience, and infrastructure — and how innovation, collaboration, and strategic investments can move communities forward.
“When we talk about sustainability and resiliency, we can’t even agree on the right word, but they are both right,” noted Priya Zachariah, emphasizing the close relationship between the two concepts.
A central theme of the conversation was how truly resilient infrastructure often begins with sustainable design. “Trying to have that overlap of sustainable infrastructure that is also resilient is why we are all here,” said Harry Thompson, setting the tone for a lively and substantive discussion.
Lisa Graiff illustrated this idea through examples from landscape architecture and urban ecology. “Sustainability intersects in things like landscaping and ecology, really thinking about what you are planting so that it enhances biodiversity, supports wildlife, cleans air and water, and helps with bouncing back,” she explained. Along greenways and trails, trees do more than provide shade; they stabilize soil, absorb stormwater, cool urban environments, and restore habitats. Integrating nature-based solutions can be both cost-effective and impactful ways to build infrastructure that performs multiple functions.
Thompson highlighted a powerful example of integrated design in West Houston: Cinco Ranch’s water reuse system. “Cinco Ranch is a successful master-planned community that has done something remarkable. They spent $14 million on a water reuse system. They’re saving about $1.5 million a year, and it will pay for itself in about 10 years,” he said. “Last year alone, they took 290 million gallons of reuse water and fed it back into their system. That’s more than some states pulled out of the ground!”
This system not only reduces dependence on groundwater, helping mitigate subsidence, but also models how long-term financial and environmental resilience can reinforce each other. “Water reuse is the ultimate convergence of sustainability and resilience,” Thompson added. “It lessens dependence on a natural resource and allows communities to bounce back faster from drought.”
Similarly, Lisa Graiff showcased the Houston Parks Board’s Bayou Greenways initiative as an example of sustainable, resilient infrastructure delivered through public-private partnerships. By transforming underutilized land along Houston’s bayous into a connected network of parks and trails, the project delivers stormwater management, wildlife habitat, transportation corridors, recreation, and quality-of-life benefits simultaneously.
Another example is the Inwood Forest Detention Basin project, where the Parks Board and the Harris County Flood Control District partnered to create a space that combines floodwater detention with wildlife habitat, recreation, and green space for the community.
“It’s important to invite the community to be part of the co-creation of these projects,” Graiff emphasized, noting that broad engagement helps ensure projects deliver lasting benefits.
Despite these successes, building resilient and sustainable infrastructure comes with challenges. Key among them is around cost, particularly when retrofitting existing developments. WHA Board Member Alia Vinson raised the question from the audience of installing sustainable features such as purple pipe systems for water reuse upfront, rather than trying to add them later.
Thompson acknowledged that upfront costs are about 1.3 times the cost of a standard system but emphasized that retrofitting is far more expensive. He pointed to Signorelli’s Austin Point project in Fort Bend County as a forward-thinking example where sustainable infrastructure is integrated from the outset.
The panelists agreed that collaboration is vital to overcoming barriers. “We need broad collaboration and consensus building for these projects,” said Zachariah. “And it’s okay to go slow at first to build up our ability to collaborate so that we can go faster later.”
Breaking down silos between agencies, disciplines, and sectors is essential for lasting results. Public-private partnerships, like those behind the Bayou Greenways, offer a clear roadmap to success.
The conversation also touched on transportation systems. “Transportation is a shining example of something that can be sustainable and resilient,” said Zachariah. “Mass transit reduces traffic congestion and air pollution while providing vital social resilience by connecting communities.” Lisa echoed similar themes in discussing the value of trail systems providing both a means of transportation and a valuable recreational amenity.
Thinking again about the costs of such projects, Thompson emphasized the value in regard to marketing. “There’s real marketing value in increased resilience and sustainability,” he said, noting that communities that prioritize these values are increasingly attracting both residents and businesses.
He also highlighted Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) as practical financing tools. “How do we unlock all this? Use MUDs,” Thompson urged. “They are the perfect vehicles for these kinds of projects. Spend the money now and get reimbursed through the MUD later.”
As part of the discussion, moderator Natalie Chaney asked, “How do you measure sustainability and resilience?” Zachariah pointed to the City of Houston’s Climate Action Plan and Resilient Houston strategy, which provide clear frameworks and targets. Graiff discussed the Bayou Greenways’ estimated $90 million annual economic impact through enhanced property values, environmental services, and public health outcomes. Growing park usage along the greenways also indicates strong community adoption. The takeaway: metrics matter, helping stakeholders see the tangible benefits of sustainable, resilient infrastructure.
The Building Resilience Through Sustainable Infrastructure forum made one thing clear: Houston’s future depends not just on building more, but building smarter. Projects that integrate sustainability and resilience are investments in protecting communities, strengthening the environment, and driving long-term prosperity.
While challenges remain, the solutions are within reach. Through thoughtful planning, strategic partnerships, nature-based design, and innovative financing, West Houston is poised to lead the way toward a more resilient and sustainable future.