What are the needs for the new Hidalgo County Courthouse and what will it be? These are the questions that a 28-member County stakeholder committee has been developing answers for. Starting on February 16, the Hidalgo County Courthouse Master Plan Committee is hosting a series of community forums at each County precinct to engage the public and seek input about the new courthouse.
“Bringing together stakeholders from various areas of our community is a key element to discovering the additional needs for a new courthouse,” said Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia. “We need a new courthouse and hope that these important forums are well attended by our citizens and community leaders during this important process that will impact future generations for years to come.”
For the past five months, the Courthouse Master Plan Team, led by ERO Architects Owner Eli Ochoa, has been conducting interviews, acquiring data and meeting with users of the facility to really understand what their needs are and transfer this data and input to a master plan.
“In 1908, the population of our county was approximately 12,350 and our courthouse was 6,000 square feet. When the current courthouse was built in 1954, our population was approximately 168,000 and our courthouse was 56,000 square feet. Currently our population is close to 800,000 and we are using a courthouse that does not match our population. We need a new courthouse,” said Ochoa.
Ochoa’s team has determined that approximately 360,000 square feet is required to match today’s population and court needs, and has recommended designing a building with two empty floors to meet the future growth of Hidalgo County for the next 50 years.
A community forum will be held at each Hidalgo County precinct, four events in February. Each community event will provide an agenda for learning about the County and the history of the courthouse, as well as see the vision for the new courthouse and provide input. The dates and locations are as follows:
McAllen residents living in precincts 2, 3 and 4 can attend the community forums at the following dates and times.
When: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Time: 6-7pm
Where: Precinct 2, San Juan Community Resource Center, 509 E. Earling, San Juan, Texas
Phone: (956) 787-1891
When: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Time: 6-7pm
Where: Precinct 3, 724 North Breyfogle, Mission, Texas
Phone: (956) 585-4509
When: Thursday, February 23, 2012 Time: 6-7pm
Where: Precinct 4, 1051 Doolittle Rd., Edinburg, Texas
Phone (956) 383-3112
For more information contact Elizabeth C. Martinez at (956) 821-8662.
About ERO Architects
Located in McAllen, ERO Architects specializes in the architectural design of education and government facilities. Awarded the Business of the Year by the State of Texas,
McAllen and Austin Chamber of Commerce, ERO combines experience, innovation, and
collaboration to each design project in order to reflect and enhance the needs of communities; exceeding expectations and always delivering on time and on budget. ERO Architects formulates a development framework that incorporates the social, cultural, economic and ecological infrastructure to design unique and beautiful spaces that afford opportunities for positive experience and sustainable prosperity. With a portfolio of designing over 170 facilities, ERO is a leading architectural firm in South Texas.