A report to Houston City Council reveals shocking conditions in two key buildings, prompting officials to consider selling and relocating.
HOUSTON — A new report delivered to Houston City Council is raising serious concerns about the state of two key city buildings, with Mayor John Whitmire calling the conditions inside “shocking.”
Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi said the Houston Police Headquarters and the city’s Public Works building at 611 Walker, which were both built in the 1960s, are rapidly deteriorating with outdated infrastructure and major maintenance problems.
Photos presented at the Houston City Council meeting showed corroded water pipes and aging systems inside 611 Walker, which houses Public Works along with 13 other city departments. Much of the building’s infrastructure, including plumbing, electrical systems, and elevators, is still original from the 1960s.
According to Macchi, the estimated cost to fully repair and modernize the two buildings is just under $600 million — a price tag he called “not a wise investment.”
“We’re looking at opportunities to find out, is there something better we can do that makes more sense for the city, our employees, and the taxpayers?” Macchi said.
The urgency was made even clearer just two weeks ago, when a flood on the 24th floor forced many Public Works employees to temporarily work from home.
City officials are now considering a range of options, including selling the buildings and relocating city operations elsewhere.
Macchi said a final recommendation will be made to City Council soon.