The public works director said the goal is to purchase the building in 2026.
This comes after electrical, mechanical, and 'life safety' issues at 1200 Travis, which is Houston Police Department Headquarters, and 611 Walker, which houses public works and multiple city departments.
Public works director Randy Macchi said people in those buildings have experienced recent flooding, causing employees to have to work from home, not having drinking water, and people getting stuck on elevators, and the fire department having to help.
In July, he said it would cost nearly $600 million to keep both buildings and fix all the deferred maintenance they needed.
For this option, passed by the council on Wednesday, Macchi said the rent will be $2.5 million at the new building on Smith Street.
He said the plan is to purchase the building for around $50 million next year.
That's compared to $7 million in rent, he said they are currently at the Walker building, and no rent at HPD, but he said there's currently $20 million being paid yearly there to maintain the building.
"We're talking about the ability to shift some huge expenses of the general fund, which is really strained, and put it into a better facility that will last us longer, that will make sure that our employees are safer, particularly our first responders, particularly our municipal employees. Allow for additional consolidations across city departments, across the city," Macchi said.
Macchi said the goal is to purchase the building next year and move everyone into it within two years.
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