Less than a month away from when Harris County Commissioners Court will hold a formal public hearing on the Ben Taub Hospital expansion in the Texas Medical Center, members of the Hermann Park Conservancy hosted the first town hall Jan. 7, alongside Harris Health officials, to inform the community about the group’s stance on the proposed land condemnation.

The standing-room-only audience gathered Wednesday evening at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at Hermann Park to hear from several city, county and state officials. HPC President and CEO Cara Lambright said Houston already ranks poorly when it comes to park access.

What they're saying

"Parkland is not replaceable," Lambright said. “It is an endangered species, and once taken, it is generally gone forever."

Lambright raised several concerns regarding the possible acquisition of nearly 9 acres of land along the southern portion of Hermann Park, along Cambridge Street and Braeswood Boulevard.



One concern was Harris Health’s compliance with Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code. The state code regulates government actions that impact protected public lands and requires that counties determine there are no feasible and prudent alternatives, according to the state website.

“I want to be clear,” Lambright said. “We do not believe yet that Harris Health has met the criteria of Chapter 26, and we do not believe that they have fully proven that this is the only possible alternative.”

Lines of audience members raised concerns with Harris Health officials on the hospital expansion. (Melissa Enaje/Community Impact)
Lines of audience members raised concerns with Harris Health officials on the hospital expansion. (Melissa Enaje/Community Impact)

Lambright said the conservancy and Harris Health officials have been meeting frequently to have “honest and very constructive conversations” on what could happen if the hospital expansion advances. She told the public that if land condemnation does occur, she would ask that both health care and park needs advance together.

“We ask that anything that’s done remain as park-like as possible and we challenge [Harris Health] to build the best hospital and park that has ever existed,” she said. “There should be a tree visible from every window.

Both Harris Health and Hermann Park Conservancy officials and legal team members spoke to audience members who spoke during the question and answer section of the town hall on Jan. 7. (Melissa Enaje/Community Impact)
Both Harris Health and Hermann Park Conservancy officials and legal team members spoke to audience members who spoke during the question and answer section of the town hall Jan. 7. (Melissa Enaje/Community Impact)

The other side

Harris Health President and CEO Esmaeil Porsa told attendees that the town hall marked his 106th meeting regarding the hospital expansion. He led a presentation detailing the county’s need for the $410 million Ben Taub Hospital expansion and shared photos of makeshift patient beds in the middle of hospital hallways.



“When Ben Taub hospital gets saturated to the point that it is unsafe to bring in more patients, when we go on what we call diversion, people die,” Porsa said. “This is not an exaggeration.”

Funded by the $2.5 billion bond package approved by Harris County voters in 2023, hospital officials said the project would add approximately 100 “critically needed” patient rooms and expand surgical capacity through a new patient tower located adjacent to Ben Taub on parkland owned by the city of Houston.

“Adding this additional capacity is actually going to save thousands of human lives in the coming years,” Porsa said.

The expansion is a key player in serving the county’s uninsured and federally subsidized individuals, Harris Health officials said. They added that Ben Taub has been operating beyond its 402-bed capacity with an expected additional 22% demand for emergency visits in the next six years.


On the other hand

At Commissioners Court on Jan. 8, the following day, one of Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s discussion items looked at what possible legal liabilities Harris Health board members were accountable for when it came to their decisions. Nine members currently serve on the Harris Health board and were appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court, according to the hospital's website.

“I have had public meetings in my community center related to their issues on condemning Hermann Park and Ben Taub and those issues,” Ramsey said.

Newly appointed County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne told Ramsey that no financial liabilities applicable to Harris Health board members, the hospital district itself or to the county exist.


“The most serious thing we’re looking at is litigation to stop the Chapter 26 process from happening and from the taking itself from happening,” Fombonne said. “Of course it can involve attorney’s fees and the cost of litigation, but not actual damages.”

What happens next?

Following the final town hall meeting Jan. 13 in Harris County Precinct 4, Harris County commissioners are expected to discuss the results of each precinct's town hall meetings and vote in March.

  • Jan. 29: public hearing of Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code to take place at Harris County Commissioners Court
  • February-March: additional review and public comment
  • March: Harris County commissioners to vote