Former Tomball City Hall Has Date With Wrecking Ball

TOMBALL, TX — The Tomball City Council is considering the fate of the old city hall that many believe is an eyesore, and a health hazard.

The tiny square whitewashed building has sat near the corner of N. Cherry Street in downtown Tomball for more than 80 years, and for the first 30-plus years that it stood, served its purpose at Tomball City Hall.

Measuring less than 1,000 square-feet, the building has had several functions with the last being an office for the Texas Department of Public Safety in the late 1980s and early 1990s. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Now, the city is considering what to do with the old and dilapidated building that by 21st Century standards, is a health hazard because of the lead paint, asbestos and back mold.

“I bet you about 90 percent of the public in this town don’t know what it is,” Councilman Derek Townsend said.

The city council initially began discussing their options for the old city hall in November, when the owners of neighboring Cisco’s Salsa Company asked about leasing the property.

RELATED: Tomball Considers Fate of Old City Hall Building

Besides the black mold, asbestos and lead paint, officials said the building wasn’t structurally sound and that parts of the ceiling had collapsed.

A capped well and a time capsule sit adjacent to the old city hall in downtown Tomball (Image: Bryan Kirk/Patch Staff)

The council took up the issue again at its July 5 budget workshop, and as in November, were torn on

“What does the public want with this building? What do they want to see,” Councilman John Ford asked, who was in favor of leveling the facility and then asking the public what they wanted to do with the property.

The cost of destroying the building, which would include mold abatement, would cost about $30,000., plus another $160,000 to raise up a replica in it’s place.

The question, however, remains: What will Tomball do with a replica?

Next to the old city hall sits a capped oil well and a seal time capsule that will be opened in 2032, and a just a block southeast of the building is the Tomball depot and the site of the future railroad museum.

“It’s one thing to tell people we are rebuilding it because it’s the old city hall, but if I have to sit there and defend why we spent the $160,000, I’d rather have a reason why we are doing it,” Councilman Mark Stoll said.
The council agreed the old city hall will eventually be demolished, but they will decide later what happens next, including commercial use by Cisco’s Salsa Company.

“It’s an historic site, but we still need to deal with the problems of that building,” Mayor Pro-tem Lori Klein-Quinn said.

The city council will meet for its last budget workshop later this month.

Image: Bryan Kirk/Patch Staff

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