OK...but not up to other Crowne Plaza standards
We traveled to Houston in July 2012. We were going to do a few activities in Houston...NASA, museums, and Minute Maid, in addition to a doctor's visit. We chose to be close to the medical center versus downtown for ease in getting to the museums and medical center. 
The hotel is not overly convenient to the medical center, but I suppose close enough. Perhaps a 10 minute drive. It's right off of 610. However, if you are there for an event at Reliant Park, perhaps a Texans game, then this hotel would be ideal, as Reliant is across the street.
Check in was quick and easy. When we got to our room, it was overlooking two enormous HVAC compressors, perhaps 1 1/2 stories tall that sounded like a jet engine. Knowing they would run 24/7 in Houston in July, I returned to the lobby and requested to be moved across the hall, which they readily did without hesitation. And, as luck would have it, our new room overlooked the pool and had a balcony. I was glad we requested the change and their immediate willingness to accomodate.
The part we stayed in, Building 3, is older. The hotel has a high-rise area, then individual three-story buildings. The hallways need refurbishing pretty bad in the buildings. Carpet was old, dirty, and stained, ceiling tiles were dated and dirty. The elevator was pretty worn out too, making loud groaning noises on the way up. My wife and daughter opted for the stairs after one ride. This was a surprise, as the lobby was very nice. But, the rooms had been refurbished. Comfortable beds, modern TV, new ceiling in the bedroom area, plenty of overall room with a balcony. The bathroom ceiling was an older tile ceiling and only 7' high, which with the wall sconce over the mirror, meant mirror height was about 5'6"...not a great height for someone 6' tall. The first morning the pipes in the wall had air in them, and rattled quite loudly. I feel sorry if anyone was next door to us trying to sleep as we showered, as there is no way they slept through the rattling. Also, the first morning the water would not get hot to a comfortable temperature, it was on the cooler side. But the second morning, the pipes did not rattle, and the water was more than hot enough.
The pool was huge, over 9' deep at one end. It was a great area with shade in the afternoon. The plaster was a bit rough and the kids had bloody toes after the second day. If you have kiddos, take water shoes. The staff was good about keeping fresh towels available poolside.
I walked past the business center and work out room, both looked nice. I was dissappointed the lobby did not have coffee available in the morning. The room has a small coffee pot, but I like to sit in the lobby and read the paper while the family gets ready. We did not eat in the restaurant or order room service so I can't comment.
It was a satisfactory stay based on price, as thankfully, I booked the site through a website where you don't know the name of the hotel, simply the star level and general location. I was initially excited to learn we lucked into a Crowne Plaza, and the price we paid was considerably cheaper than the rack rate. But after going, had we paid full price, and especially if we would have been stuck in the first room, I would have been very dissappointed, as it was not up to the usual Crowne Plaza standards we have seen elsewhere.
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