Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt listens to an update on the planned civil and family courts complex and adjacent office tower during the June 30 Travis County Commissioners Court meeting.[/caption]
Travis County Commissioners Court members were updated on the proposed civil and family courts complex during the court’s June 30 meeting.
Voters will decide in November whether to support the county’s $291.6 million bond proposal to build a new civil and family courts courthouse. There are also plans to develop an adjacent office tower along Fourth Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets.
On June 23, commissioners agreed to hold an industry forum and establish a formal process for developing the south portion of the proposed complex. During that process it will be decided whether to develop the office portion at the same time as the courthouse.
The industry forum will take place July 8-10 to provide industry representatives with information about plans for the project. The Commissioners Court will consider releasing a Request for Real Estate Proposals for the south portion of the complex block in late July to early August. Proposals for any potential development will not be evaluated until after the Nov. 3 bond election.
Commissioners asked staff to research possible ways of saving money to offset overall costs. Developing the south tower now rather
than having the county have to develop the south end of the block in 20 years would have financial benefits for taxpayers, according to staff. After the forum, county staff will come back to the court and advise commissioners on what they heard and what offers might be feasible, staff told commissioners.
Commissioner Brigid Shea said the court will not be able to reduce the bond's actual dollar amount on the ballot to reflect the court’s intentions to reduce the debt burden for taxpayers.
“I think it’s significant that this court is making these extensive efforts to try and find savings in order to reduce the burden for taxpayers for something we have to provide,” Shea said.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt listens to an update on the planned civil and family courts complex and adjacent office tower during the June 30 Travis County Commissioners Court meeting.[/caption]
Travis County Commissioners Court members were updated on the proposed civil and family courts complex during the court’s June 30 meeting.
Voters will decide in November whether to support the county’s $291.6 million bond proposal to build a new civil and family courts courthouse. There are also plans to develop an adjacent office tower along Fourth Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets.
On June 23, commissioners agreed to hold an industry forum and establish a formal process for developing the south portion of the proposed complex. During that process it will be decided whether to develop the office portion at the same time as the courthouse.
The industry forum will take place July 8-10 to provide industry representatives with information about plans for the project. The Commissioners Court will consider releasing a Request for Real Estate Proposals for the south portion of the complex block in late July to early August. Proposals for any potential development will not be evaluated until after the Nov. 3 bond election.
Commissioners asked staff to research possible ways of saving money to offset overall costs. Developing the south tower now rather than having the county have to develop the south end of the block in 20 years would have financial benefits for taxpayers, according to staff. After the forum, county staff will come back to the court and advise commissioners on what they heard and what offers might be feasible, staff told commissioners.
Commissioner Brigid Shea said the court will not be able to reduce the bond's actual dollar amount on the ballot to reflect the court’s intentions to reduce the debt burden for taxpayers.
“I think it’s significant that this court is making these extensive efforts to try and find savings in order to reduce the burden for taxpayers for something we have to provide,” Shea said.
