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Travis County Buys Downtown Parking Lot To Build New Courthouse

Parking lot
Image courtesy Google Street View
Travis County Commissioners cleared the way to buy this plot of land downtown between 3rd and 4th streets to the north and south and Guadalupe and San Antonio streets to the east and west.

Travis County Commissioners didn't take any moves to block the planned purchase of a lot in downtown Austin, clearing the way for the deal to close tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.

As KUT News reported two weeks ago, the county will pay $21,750,000 for the downtown block next to Republic Square Park.

County Judge Sam Biscoe says that’s half a million more than the appraised value. “But I think that the location, more than justifies that. Plus it’s the size that we need,” Biscoe told KUT. Next year the county will ask voters to approve a bond to fund construction of a new civil courthouse on the land. But even if that fails, Biscoe says the property makes a good investment. If need be, the land could be resold or leased. It will also provide some revenue through paid parking. “And I understand that the parking now generates more than $300,000 a year,” said Biscoe.

Here's a map showing exactly where the plot of land is located.

View Travis County land buy in a larger map

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion-dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on X @KUTnathan.