Montgomery County commissioners have approved the next step toward building a $250 million courthouse in downtown Conroe, citing space shortages, safety concerns, and growing caseloads. Officials will begin searching for an architect as funding options remain under discussion.
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Officials in Montgomery County are moving forward with plans for a new $250 million courthouse in downtown Conroe. They say the current building is too small and has serious infrastructure issues.
County commissioners voted at their regular meeting on Thursday to begin seeking an architect to design the proposed seven-story structure. The new courthouse would be built on county-owned land near the Alan B. Sadler Commissioner's Court Building on North Thompson Street. It would also provide room for a new tax office.
Judge Kristin Bays of the 284th State District Court said the proposed location includes land west of the Sadler Building, part of North San Jacinto Street, and a parking lot next to it, which is currently home to the Montgomery County Wellness Center.
Officials stressed the initiative's importance because the county's court system is becoming busier. The Texas Office of Court Administration has determined that Montgomery County needs 9 additional courts to handle the growing caseload.
Bays remarked, "We do not have any more room." "We can not wait any longer."
The county thinks the project will cost $250 million, but Bays said the final number might be lower. Commissioners have not yet decided how to pay for the project, though they have discussed options such as bonds, certificates of obligation, and public-private partnerships.
There have been years of documented concerns about the current courthouse, including reports of black mold, mice, and structural issues. Bays and Judge Vince Santini of the 457th District Court formally requested action more than a year after bringing these problems to the commissioners' attention.
Charlie Riley, the commissioner for Precinct 2, showed his anger with the extensive study on what the courthouse needed. Riley responded, "I do not want to study anymore." "The studies say what they say."
Riley also said it was important to address jail capacity alongside courthouse construction. He responded, "We have to do both the courthouse and the jail at the same time."
Ritch Wheeler, the Precinct 3 commissioner, agreed that the jail needs more space. He suggested using approximately 20 acres near the existing jail on Hilbig Street for a new jail or justice center. Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said a study is already underway to determine whether a new jail is feasible.
The current courthouse in Montgomery County, built in 1936 in the Art Deco style, is the county's fourth. Houston architect Joseph Finger designed the building, which replaced a red-brick courthouse built in 1891 on the same site. In 1966, the facility added additional wings, but it has since had trouble keeping up with the county's tremendous expansion.
The new courthouse is a long-term investment in public safety and court efficiency, according to county leaders. Planning is now moving on to the next phase.
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