Where trailblazers speak & bridges form.
The Building Texas Show with host, Justin McKenzie, where he talks about the balance of business and governance and growth across Texas. We interview the local leaders affecting the issues, business owners creating momentum and founders who are working to change the world, and inspire you to uncover the power you have to forge the future.
In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Gus Pappas, Mayor of Bellaire, for a deep, candid conversation on what it takes to govern one of the Houston region’s most distinctive communities.
Bellaire is a fully built-out enclave city surrounded by Houston—unable to expand outward, yet actively investing inward. Mayor Pappas shares how disciplined zoning, long-term infrastructure planning, and regional collaboration are allowing Bellaire to modernize without losing its identity as a “city of homes.”
The conversation explores Bellaire’s $110 million regional drainage and flood mitigation initiative, the realities of local governance, and why patience, judgment, and stewardship matter more than speed in city leadership. From Hurricane Harvey lessons to interlocal cooperation with Houston, Harris County, and the State of Texas, this episode provides a rare look at how small cities can lead on big issues.
The episode also highlights the cultural and lifestyle elements that define Bellaire—parks, neighborhood traditions, community festivals, and a civic philosophy focused on protecting the city’s soul while planning for future generations.
This is an essential watch for anyone interested in Texas cities, local leadership, infrastructure, real estate stability, and long-term community building inside major metropolitan regions.
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Follow along our host, Justin McKenzie, as he discusses a broad range of topics and interview the top leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who are building Texas.