Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt gave a brief update today related to the civil and family courts capacity project, a follow-up to the failed bond election in 2015 that would have allocated funds toward construction of a new civil and family courthouse. The block Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt discussed evaluating for possible courts capacity Aug. 30 is located east of the existing Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse and currently houses Travis County Facilities Management services.[/caption] Eckhardt said she has been looking into a suggestion to use the block immediately to the east of the existing Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse in downtown Austin, known as block 126, which houses administrative facilities management services. “That block is severely encumbered by Capitol view corridors, constricting its building height on the southeast corridor to less than 10 feet and restricting its height on the northeast corridor to less than 40 feet,” she said. She added the request made to the court was to take a look at adjusting those view corridors through legislation. Eckhardt said she reached out to state Sen. Kirk Watson’s office and was advised that the prospect is not likely. “While we feel strongly about the need for additional courts capacity, and that is a strong and urgently needed public use, I don’t think it is one that overrides the public benefit of the Capitol view corridors,” she said. As part of a separate agenda item discussion, Strategic Planning Manager Belinda Powell noted Travis County has a plan to maximize all of its downtown real estate through its Central Campus Master Plan. “We do annually take a look at the county needs, and we’re going through the process right now under the auspices of reverifying where we can add civil and family courts capacity,” she said.