Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Managing Department: County Engineer
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Preliminary Investment Memo
Project Name: Thomas Street Facility - Phase 2
Project ID (if applicable): THOMAS_STR
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 20.71%
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): 20.71%
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $5,000,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: 63,780,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Preliminary Investment Memo for the Thomas Street Facility - Phase 2 project, for an incremental authorization of $5,000,000 for a total authorization of $5,300,000.
end
Project Description:
The Thomas Street Facility, located at 2015 Thomas Street in the Near Northside Historic District, occupies approximately three acres and includes three historic buildings constructed in 1911. The site consists of the main four-story hospital building measuring approximately 41,344 square feet, a storage building located north of the main building, and a former nurses’ residence south of the main building. The nurses’ residence is currently unoccupied and closed to the public due to structural damage. Together, the storage building and nurses’ residence measure approximately 20,500 square feet.
The Thomas Street Facility project is structured in three phases. Phase 1 is complete and included pre-design services to assess the overall site and buildings, determining occupancy limits for surrounding residents and future County departments. Comprehensive evaluations of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire, and life safety systems were conducted, along with environmental assessments, to inform necessary renovations and upgrades for programming, design, and permitting in Phase 2. The outcome from Phase 1 indicates the buildings will serve Precinct 2 and Harris County administrative offices and support functions, an HCSO storefront, and a small Harris Health clinic, as well as for community use and support, including a community multi-purpose/fitness room, computer lab, and co-working space, community meeting room, café. Overall, the proposed uses include office, public safety, and health clinic functions. The primary objective of Phase 2 is the preparation of Construction Documents. Phase 3 will include the construction of all improvements identified in previous phases, including environmental abatement, building renovations, system upgrades, the generator, as well as contingency and escalation. Phase 4 will conclude with commissioning. Phase 1 pre-design activities ensured future renovations meet current standards, enhance resiliency, and support sustainability. Funding for Phase 3 and Phase 4 will be sought through the Commissioners Court via future investment memos.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
[Presented to Commissioners Court, 11/14/23, Approved, Agenda #: 61 and Complete] Phase 1: A+E Professional Services for pre-Design Services (MEP, ADA, Fire and Life Safety, Structural, Site, Environmental) |
$300,000 |
Q4 2024 |
|
[For approval this CIM]: Phase 2: A+E Professional Services: Programming, Design, Specifications, Construction Documents |
$5,000,000 |
Q4 2026 |
|
[For approval in subsequent FIM]: Phase 3: Estimated Tentative Future Construction Cost (Site Development, Abatement, Testing, Permitting, Demolition, Renovations, ICT and Security Upgrades) |
$50,000,000 |
Q3 2027 |
|
[For approval in subsequent FIM]: Phase 3: Estimated Tentative Cost of Generator |
$100,000 |
Q3 2027 |
|
[For approval in subsequent FIM]: Phase 3: Estimated Tentative Contingency and Escalation |
$8,280,000 |
Q4 2027 |
|
[For approval in subsequent FIM]: Phase 4: Commissioning - Design Compliance and Performance Verification |
$100,000 |
Q4 2027 |
|
Total |
$63,780,000 |
Q4 2027 |
An Investment Memo will be submitted once the Construction Documents and pricing are fully defined.
OMB will transfer $5,000,000 in Certificates of Obligation, Series 2024 budget to the Harris County Engineering Department for this project and will return to Commissioners Court with subsequent transfers, following standard budget transfer procedure.
Justification & Alternatives:
The buildings, constructed over 100 years ago, are in dire need of repairs and upgrades. The main hospital building has one air-cooled chiller that has been decommissioned due to mechanical issues. The storage building’s air conditioning system is also inoperable. The former nurses’ residence is boarded up and in deteriorating conditions, with a collapsed roof and exterior walls showing visible structural damage.
Both the main hospital and storage buildings have original exterior wooden windows that appear to be rotted and fitted with inefficient single-pane glass. The original wooden window frames have peeling paint, which will require environmental testing before any renovation or construction work can proceed.
Given the current condition of the buildings and their mechanical systems, Preliminary Design and Construction activities and A+E Professional Services are essential to begin repairs and eventually return the facility to use. An alternative would be to leave the buildings as they are and defer the project to a later date. However, maintaining the buildings in their present state would result in high ongoing operations and maintenance costs for the County, while also increasing the risk of mechanical system failures and further structural deterioration.
The Thomas Street Facility carries significant historical and architectural value. Allowing it to continue to deteriorate or potentially collapse would have a profound impact on the community due to the building’s historic importance.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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Total |
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$- |
$- |
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): J3: Strengthen enabling support and processes for MWBE programming.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): T2: Make County buildings more energy efficient.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
7/18/2023 |
105 |
Approved -- Request for approval to negotiate with Page Southerland Page LLC for Professional Engineering Services for the building assessment, feasibility study and programming of the Thomas Street Building located at 2015 Thomas Street, Houston, 77009, Precinct 2. |
|
9/19/2023 |
45 |
Approved -- Request for approval to execute an agreement with Page Southerland Page, Inc. in the amount of $151,000.00 to provide Building Assessment and Feasibility Study at Thomas Street Facility, UPIN 24035MF33801, Countywide, MWDBE Contracted Goal 20.2%. |
|
11/14/2023 |
61 |
Approved - Request for approval of the Preliminary Investment Memo for the Thomas Street Facility - Renovations and Upgrades - Phase 1 project for an initial authorization of $300,000 and initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $300,000. |
Address: 2015 Thomas Street, Houston, Texas 77009
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Certificate of Obligation |
$ |
$5,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$5,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$5,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/29/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Special Assistant County Attorney, 1/21/2026
Department Approval by: Dr. Ronald Lerner, Director, Vertical Design and Construction
OMB CIP Team Approval by: Wanwei Tang, Analyst - Capital Projects and Infrastructure, 1/20/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: N/A
Project PeopleSoft ID: N/A
CP Series Description: N/A
OMB Financial Management contact: N/A