Old Walmart is part of $45M bond package
From staff reports
The Daily News
Published July 7, 2010

Q: I want to know what is going into the old Walmart building off Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.

There is a lot of work happening in that building, but no one seems to know what all the work is for.

I have heard different stories, like University of Texas Medical Branch clinics, Department of Human Services offices, etc.

Maybe you all at the county paper can find out and let me know.

A: The old Walmart building in Texas City, what we now refer to as the Mid County Annex, will be the new home to various county entities.

Currently our planned tenants are the Central Appraisal District, the Galveston County Health District (clinics, ambulance authority, environmental health, WIC, etc.), Galveston County Tax Office, commissioner Precinct 3 and County Veterans Affairs.

In total, they will occupy about 125,000 square feet.

This project is part of the $45 million facilities bond package approved by voters in 2008.

Thus far, we have completed interior demolition with help from Sheriff Freddie Poor and the inmate skills program.

We also have replaced the roof on the building that was damaged during Hurricane Ike. All architectural work on the project is being done by our staff architect.

The county has retained a construction manager for the job — Hugh Patrick Construction of Texas City — and will begin actively soliciting bids for all of the trades within the next 30 to 45 days.

We anticipate this being a 12-month project from the date of award of the trade contracts, with ultimate completion in mid-2011.