April 23, 2026 - Click2Houston.com - 

After sitting vacant for years, a longtime Houston landmark is now being torn down—making way for a project that could reshape how people travel across Texas.

Crews have begun demolition at the former Northwest Mall site near U.S. Highway 290 and Loop 610. The 45-acre property has been designated as the future Houston terminus for the proposed Texas high-speed rail line connecting Houston and Dallas.

The mall, which opened in 1968, closed its doors in 2017 and has largely remained abandoned ever since. For many who have watched it sit empty for years, the sudden activity is hard to believe. “I heard about it years ago, but then it kind of went away. I assumed it wasn’t happening,” said Houston resident Kevin Briand. But in recent weeks, people have noticed more activity in the area.

Read more and video: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/04/23/northwest-mall-being-demolished-to-make-way-for-houston-station-for-texas-high-speed-rail-line/

Related story: https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/would-a-green-light-from-the-trump-administration-kick-start-the-dallas-houston-high-speed-rail-project

Photo credit: KPRC-Houston