Harris County Breaks Ground on Long-Awaited Barbara Jordan Community Center

HOUSTON, TX -- Harris County broke ground this week on the long-awaited 12,460-square foot Barbara Jordan Community Center in Northeast Houston.

The community center, which named for the late congresswoman who represented Texas' 18th congressional district from 1967 to 1973, will be constructed near the intersection of East Mount Houston Road and Interstate 69, south of Beltway 8.

The $4.1 million project will serve as a venue for youth and senior programs and provide additional meeting space for other community-based events.

“The biggest thing is the building will have the flexibility to meet traditional needs in the community as well as any unique needs that might surface,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke told Community Impact News. “It’s being built with the idea that it’s a facility that is usable by community residents for a whole host of things.”

The community center, which will take about a year to complete, is projected to open before the end of 2017.

The Barbara Jordan Community Center is being built near the current community center, which will be demolished after the new facility is completed.

The Barbara Jordan Community Center was the vision of the late Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee, who died suddenly in January.

“The ability to go forward with one of Commissioner Lee’s visionary programs that he has had on the drawing board for a number of years—to be able to finally bring it to a point where we’re ready for construction is something we’re quite proud of,” Locke said.

Image: North Charlestonvia Flickr