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Commissioners accept HDR's feasibility report for new Comal County courts building at 3150 site
Summary
Comal County accepted a draft feasibility report from HDR Architecture for a new courts building at the county's 3150 site, with Talley's team recommending a phased plan to meet needs through about 2045 and warning preliminary estimates could exceed $300 million once escalation and soft costs are included.
Holden Talley, a justice principal with HDR Architecture, presented the draft feasibility report for a new Comal County Courts Building at the intersection of Loop 337 and Interstate 35 and asked the court to accept the study for further planning.
"This is an analysis of the current space needs and then the future space needs for the courts," Talley said, describing the report as a program-level study rather than a detailed design. He explained the team assessed departments currently housed in the Landa Annex and the Courthouse Annex and developed a two-phase approach: construct a new Phase 1 at the 3150 site to house district courts, the district attorney, district clerk and secured parking, then renovate and repurpose existing annex space in Phase 2.
The report recommends a secure, direct connection between the new courts building and the adjacent jail to facilitate inmate transport and reduce operational constraints. Talley said the initial building program would include 12 courtrooms and related security and public lobby functions, with room reserved for future expansion beyond the 20-year planning window.
Talley and staff presented preliminary cost estimates and a schedule. He cautioned the court about industry escalation and uncertainty, saying the estimate, including soft costs and escalation, "would actually be over 300 million." He described a schedule that could move into design in late 2025 and reach overall program completion in the early 2030s if the court elects to proceed.
Commissioners asked how long the proposed reconfigurations would serve the county. Talley said the program was sized to a population projection the firm used — roughly 400,000 — and would address space needs through about 2045. County staff explained a planning committee already formed earlier this year had the studies it needs (jail, annexes, and now the 3150 courts feasibility) and will consider funding scenarios, including potential bond planning.
After discussion the court voted to accept the draft HDR feasibility report. The court also heard an announcement from staff that Talley will retire at the end of the year; commissioners thanked him for his work on county projects.
