The vacant 1914 Nueces County Courthouse is set for demolition in 2026 as leaders seek up to $2 million in TIRZ funds to help offset taxpayer costs.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The long-vacant 1914 Nueces County Courthouse may soon be demolished as county leaders move through historical preservation requirements and seek outside funding to help offset the cost of tearing the building down.

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The downtown courthouse has sat empty for nearly 50 years and has continued to deteriorate, prompting county officials to move forward with demolition planning. Before any demolition can begin, the county must complete state-required documentation to preserve the building’s historical record.

Commissioner Mike Pusley said the county has hired an engineering firm to guide the tear-down process.

“The county has hired an engineering firm that is our consultant on the tear-down process and how that has to happen,” Pusley said.

He said the county has also hired a second company to help meet preservation requirements by documenting the building and identifying historical items that may be saved.

“That includes doing things like large-scale photography work on the inside and outside of the courthouse and identifying artifacts that we may be able to save,” Pusley said.

The county hopes to begin demolition in the first quarter of 2026.

As demolition planning continues, county leaders are also looking for ways to reduce the financial impact on taxpayers. Officials have asked Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3 for up to $2 million to help cover demolition costs.

“We thought two million dollars was a fair ask, but we’ve run into some difficulty with that. I don’t know if that is going to happen or not,” Pusley said.

County Judge Connie Scott said the request aligns with the purpose of the downtown TIRZ.

“I think that’s exactly what that TIRZ money is supposed to go for,” Scott said. “The county has been a 100 percent participant for 18 years, and we have never asked for any money out of that.”

Nueces County is one of several taxing entities that contribute incremental property tax revenue to TIRZ 3, which is set to expire in 2028 unless it is extended.

Corpus Christi City Councilman Everett Roy, who chairs the TIRZ 3 board, said the county’s request is under review as leaders also consider the long-term redevelopment potential of the courthouse site.

“The county has asked us to take a look at their participation in TIRZ and made some suggestions. We’re trying to do that diligently,” Roy said.

Roy said the property is considered a key piece of future downtown redevelopment.

“That’s a prime piece of land right there. When you think about future development downtown, it’s going to be a very important part of that area,” he said.

Pusley said demolition will move forward regardless of whether TIRZ funding is approved.

“We have the money to tear it down,” Pusley said. “We’re just trying to soften the blow to taxpayers as much as we can.”