Hidalgo County selects construction manager for new $150 million courthouse
March 2, 2018
Hidalgo County officials are making progress with plans to build a new $150 million courthouse in Edinburg.
“The courthouse has a useful life and I think it’s reached the end of that useful life,” said David Fuentes, Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 1.
The Hidalgo County Courthouse has been standing since 1954 and houses 20 more courts than it was built for.
Now, officials say they’re ready to build a new one.
“We’re building for the future,” said Judge Ramon Garcia. “We anticipate this building will take us into the 22nd century. I can’t believe I’m even thinking that far.”
The land has already been bought and several architects have already been contracted.
Garcia tells CBS 4 News that they just announced Morganti Texas Inc. as their construction manager.
“They’ve been involved in courthouse construction throughout the county and we feel they’re very qualified,” said Garcia.
Now that a construction company has been selected, the county hopes to have finalized plans by July and begin construction by September.
Officials say the old courthouse is becoming a health hazard.
“Every time we have a good rain, the building gets wet,” said Garcia. “Some areas have considerable amounts of water and, recently during the last rain, we had the roof issue. It seemed like it was raining inside the building. So, through the years, those time of instances have kept occurring to the point of mold, asbestos.”
Fuentes says the new courthouse will fix the courthouse’s drainage problems and parking issues.
“We have purchased 2 1/2 blocks north of the courthouse and that is going to be an area dedicated for parking.”