Friction erupts in commissioner’s court over proposed door construction at the Harris County Administration Building

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Discussion over renovations at the Harris County Administration Building turned heated on Thursday at Commissioner’s Court.

The renovations involve tearing down a wall and adding a new doorway to improve safety in the precinct four office, but Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said this would disrupt her staff’s work.

“All that we are requesting is that my team have a second egress, which is the expert recommendation of former chief Pena, who helps lead engineering, as well as our fire marshal, Chief Christensen,” Commissioner Lesley Briones said.

A 2025 request from Precinct Four staff prompted a safety inspection that confirmed the single door to and from the office was a major safety concern, according to former Houston fire chief Samuel Peña, who now works with the county’s engineering office.

However, when it was suggested that the door connect the Precinct Four office to Judge Lina Hidalgo’s office, she disagreed.

“I have very little space. I cannot work out of a community center because I do not have any. My staff is already squished into a conference room because they have already been displaced,” Hidalgo said.

If the door is installed as currently planned, Peña said Hidalgo might lose storage room shelving and that a printer would need to be moved.

Hidalgo said her staff usually works on two floors, but repairs on one floor have them all in one spot. She said space has been such a problem that she has delayed remodeling her own office.

“I don’t want to be displaced that I had carpet in my bathroom for seven of the eight years in office,” Hidalgo said.

After her remarks, Hidalgo left the meeting, and Commissioner Garcia apologized to Peña for what she said.

Speaking from the Precinct Four office, Peña told ABC13 that the door connecting the Precinct Four office to the Judge’s storage room makes sense.

“We came in as engineers to figure out where do we place this egress that makes the most sense, considering what’s in place structurally, and the most efficient way to get people out in case of an emergency,” Peña said.

After the discussion, they decided where the door would be placed. The cost and design will be worked out next. No exact timeline for the project’s completion was given.

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