Tim Reylea , the vice president of Cushman Realty Corp. , said that the Continental move " is probably the largest corporate relocation in the central business district of Houston ever " . Bob Lanier , Mayor of Houston , said that he was " tickled to death " by the airline 's move to relocate to Downtown Houston . In September 2000 an electrical component burned out at Continental Center I , and the Houston Fire Department shut off the backup power supply as a precaution . As a result of the temporary power outage , delays of between 300 and 400 Continental Airlines flights occurred worldwide . The Texas bureau of Jesse Jackson 's Wall Street Project opened in office space in Continental Center I in May 2001 . After the September 11 attacks and by September 2004 Continental laid off 24 % of its clerical and management workers . Despite the reduction of the workforce , Continental did not announce any plans to sublease any of its space in Continental Center I and Continental Center II
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
1600 Smith Street