Harris County Precinct 1 will break ground Thursday on the 12,460-square-foot Barbara Jordan Community Center near the intersection of East Mount Houston and Hwy. 59, just south of Beltway 8. The $4.1 million project will allow Harris County to host youth and senior programs as well as provide additional meeting space, a new kitchen and more exercise facilities for area residents, Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke said. “The biggest thing is the building will have the flexibility to meet traditional needs in the community as well as any unique needs that might surface,” Locke said. “It’s being built with the idea that it’s a facility that is usable by community residents for a whole host of things.” The new community center is expected to open before the end of 2017, according to Harris County Precinct 1. It will be constructed near the current community center, which will be demolished after the new facility is completed. The new community center was a passion project for former Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee, who died in January, Locke said. “The ability to go forward with one of Commissioner Lee’s visionary programs that he has had on the drawing board for a number of years—to be able to finally bring it to a point where we’re ready for construction is something we’re quite proud of,” he said.