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File #: 23-6735    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Investment Memo Status: Passed
File created: 11/3/2023 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 11/14/2023 Final action: 11/14/2023
Title: 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.
Sponsors: Mony Hossain

Department: County Engineer

Department Head: Dr. Milton Rahman, PhD., P.E., PMP, CFM, County Engineer

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Investment Memo

Investment Memo Type: Preliminary Investment Memo

 

Project Name: Thomas Street Facility - Renovations and Upgrades - Phase 1

Project ID (if applicable): TBD

Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A

 

MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWDBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Managing Entity: County Engineer

Incremental Authorization Requested: $300,000

Total Estimated Project Cost: $30,000,000+

 

Request Summary:

title

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.

end

 

Project Description:

The Thomas Street Facility is located in the Near Northside Historic District at 2015 Thomas Street. The site comprises three historic buildings that were constructed in the year 1911 and are situated on roughly three acres of land surrounded by single-family residences. The main four-story hospital building that is approximately 41,344 square feet, the storage building located north of the main building, and the former nurses’ residence located south of the main building. The nurses’ residence is currently unoccupied and due to structural damage, has been closed-off to the public. Together, the nurses’ residence and storage building measures approximately 20,500 square feet.

Phase 1 of the Project encompasses pre-design services for the overall site and building to determine allowable occupancy considerations for surrounding residents and future County departments. The Phase 1 environmental and comprehensive evaluations of the building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire, and life safety systems will be conducted to  determine necessary upgrades and renovations for programming, design, and permitting in Phase 2. The programming, designs, and permits created in phase 2 will define the actual construction activities and costs that occur in Phase 3.

Project Scope:

Phase 1 of the project consists of the pre-design and pre-construction activities for the site and existing structures at 2015 Thomas St. Phase 2 will include Design, Specifications and Construction Document Creation, and Phase 3 will include Construction of all improvements identified in previous Phases.

Pre-design activities include a comprehensive evaluation of the buildings' mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire, and life safety systems, along with recommendations for future renovations and improvements to meet current standards, enhance resiliency, and support sustainability.

Upon completing necessary environmental and pre-engineering building evaluations in Phase 1, the Office of County Engineer will seek funding from Commissioners Court for Phase 2 and Phase 3 through future investment memos. Phase 2 will plan, design and seek permitting for the accommodations required for county offices and facilities relocating to the building. Construction will encompass environmental abatement services, building renovations, improvements, and upgrades.

Justification:

Having been built over 100 years ago, the buildings are in dire need of repairs and upgrades. The main hospital building has one air-cooled chiller that is decommissioned due to mechanical problems. The storage building’s air conditioning system is also in non-working conditions. The nurses’ residence building is boarded up and in deteriorating conditions, the roof has collapsed and the exterior walls have visible structural damage.

The main hospital and storage buildings have exterior wooden windows that appear to be rotted and consist of inefficient single-pane glass. The original wooden window frames have paint that is peeling and requires environmental testing prior to future renovations and construction.

The Phase 1, Overall building and site Preliminary Design activities are pertinent for the building's future programming, design, and renovation.

Alternatives and Engagement:

Due to the existing conditions of the buildings and their mechanical systems, the Preliminary Design and Construction Activities of the site and buildings would be necessary to proceed with repairing and eventually occupying the building. One alternative would be to maintain the building as is and perform the scope of this project at a later time. Leaving the buildings in the current conditions will incur high maintenance costs for the County while allowing the possibility of mechanical systems to fail and eventually further damage the structural integrity of the buildings. The Thomas Street Facility holds significant historical and architectural value, allowing the facility to deteriorate and possibly collapse will have a great impact on the community due to the building’s historic significance.

Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:

Scope of Work

Estimated Cost

Estimated Completion

[For approval this PIM] Phase 1: A&E Professional Services for pre-Design Services (MEP, ADA, Fire and Life Safety, Structural, Site, Environmental).

$300,000

Q2 2024

[For approval in subsequent CIM] Phase 2: A&E Professional Service: Space Programming, design.

$3,700,000+

Q1 2025

[For approval in subsequent FIM] Phase 3: Estimated Future Construction Cost (Site Development, Abatement, Testing, Permitting, Demolition, Renovations, IT/AV and Security Upgrades).

$26,000,000+

Q1 2026

Total

$30,000,000+

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An Investment Memo will be submitted once the building's preliminary design activities, recommendations, and scope of the site repurposing and renovations are fully defined.

Alignment with Goal(s):

_ Justice and Safety

_ Economic Opportunity

_ Housing

_ Public Health

_ Transportation

_ Flooding

_ Environment

X Governance and Customer Service

 

Previous Court Action:

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

07/18/2023

105

Approved- Authorization to Negotiate with consultant for Professional Engineering Services for assessment and feasibility study

09/19/2023

45

Approved- To execute agreement with consultant to provide assessment and feasibility study

 

 

 

 

Address: 2015 Thomas Street, Houston, TX 77009

Precinct(s): Precinct 2

 

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

 

 

FY 24

FY 25

Next 3 FYs

Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions)

Labor Expenditures

$

$

$

Non-Labor Expenditures

$300,000

$

$

Total Incremental Expenditures

$300,000

$

$

Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions)

Existing Budget

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Total Current Budget

$

$

$

Additional Budget Requested

Commercial Paper

$300,000

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Requested

$300,000

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$300,000

$

$

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

Additional Positions Requested

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: November 14, 2023

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A

Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Assistant County Attorney, 11/8/23

Department Approval by: Dr. Hatem Elbastawisy, PE, (Interim) Senior Director of Project Delivery, HCED

OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 11/8/23

 

 

Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):

Receiving Department: County Engineer

Project PeopleSoft ID: THOMAS_STR

CP Series Description: CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).

Commercial Paper is being requested for the In-Bound Ballot by Mail Sorting System and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.

OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget