City of McKinney moves forward with plans for new municipal center and to demolish former courthouse on State Highway 5

Texas Historical Commission questions Collin County and city leaders about notifying the state about sale and demolition of former Collin County Courthouse

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com
Created at 10:15 p.m. on June 4, 2009

The McKinney City Council recently approved an asbestos study for the building to remove the asbestos from the six story former courthouse, and the building will be demolished. However, the Texas Historical Commission is asking the city to reconsider demolishing the building and is questioning the sale of the building.

In a letter dated April 23 of this year from F. Lawrence Oaks, Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission that was addressed to Collin County Judge Keith Self, former Mayor Bill Whitfield, City Manager Frank Ragan, Oaks states that according to section 442.008 of the Texas Government Code that Collin County was required to notify the THC of the transfer of ownership from Collin County to the city, and must also "notify the Texas Historical Commission of the demolition of a building that serves or has served as a county courthouse at least six months prior to any action."

Oak's letter also states that the former courthouse, which was built in 1979, will be eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places once the building turns 50 years old, and that "the building has become part of Collin County's history over the past 30 years."

Oaks' letter also states the the addition of more floors onto the courthouse could "be a more economical approach to accommodating the city government's growth than the cost of demolition, and new construction, particularly considering the quality and durability of the current building's material."

In March, the council approved plans to proceed with the demolition of the former courthouse and Annex A, which used to house the Collin County Jail, with demolition anticipated to be scheduled for this summer.

Mayor Brian Loughmiller said on June 4 that the city is speaking with Collin County officials regarding the letter and what the county is required to do in response to the letter.

According to plans, the $21 million total cost of maintenance and utilities for phase one of the municipal center will will be less for new construction than for renovating the current building. Over the life cycle of 20 years, maintenance and operation of a new facility will save an estimated $20 million, and savings reach an estimated $40 million for 30 years, assuming annual cost increases of 5 percent, Ragan said, via a press release that was issued by the city on June 3.

“The site location is excellent, but the current building does not meet our practical needs. The best option for us now is to start over with a new building, keeping sustainability and cost-effectiveness in mind with the design and construction. A new municipal center will also extend the downtown area – our city’s heart and soul – and blend more seamlessly into the surrounding architecture and environment,” Ragan said.

In their place, a new 45,000 square-foot office building will be built with energy-efficient features for both cost and environmental considerations. The new facility will meet the long-term growth needs of the city, providing a cost-effective solution for space needs that balances capital costs with operational and maintenance costs.

Construction of the municipal center will ultimately incorporate city staff departments with about 20 percent less wasted space than the current building would have allowed. The first phase of new construction will efficiently accommodate the long-term needs of the Development Services and Information Technology departments. The current City Hall building, located at 222 N. Tennessee S, will continue to house the City Manager’s Office, Mayor’s Office and Council Chambers. Other city departments will move into future phases of the center as construction on subsequent phases progresses.

The new center will provide a gathering space for indoor and outdoor functions, and will anchor the downtown area with a plan that links future light rail and historic downtown, consistent with the goals of the City’s Town Center study.

“Council has approved us to move forward with this facility, which will benefit the entire community. By building a newly constructed municipal center, beginning with the Phase I office building, we will create a location for accessible, efficient, professional customer service to citizens that presents a positive image of McKinney to the public and to investors in the community,” Ragan said.

The courthouse is now vacant as the city's Municipal Court personnel and into the court's previous and newly renovated facility on Chestnut Street. The county's Human Resources, GIS and Commissioner's Court offices have moved out of the courthouse and are now housed in the Jack Hatchell Administration Building.

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