$105M May Not Be Enough For Astrodome Redevelopment
Astrodome redevelopment plans may have hit another snag.
The approved $105M renovation budget isn't even enough to provide air conditioning for the historic sports venue, Harris County Judge Line Hidalgo told Houston Public Media.
"I am currently evaluating the current project on the Astrodome to make sure that it is fiscally responsible," she told HPM.
She said she is in talks with different stakeholders to determine what the allocated budget can pay for.
The county approved plans last February to raise the ground level and make room for 1,400 parking spots, Bisnow previously reported. It would also make the Dome suitable for festivals, conferences and other commercial use.
A third of the $105M will come from the county's general fund collected from property taxes, another third from hotel taxes and the last portion from parking revenue. The site costs close to $170K a year to maintain, county budget officials said previously.
The Texas Historical Commission approved the application last year for the Astrodome to become a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, which protects the site up to 90 days before alterations and/or demolition can take place. Therefore, the county will need final approval from the state for any renovation activity.
In 2013, Harris County voters rejected a $217M bond proposal to renovate the site.
In related news, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the owner of the AstroWorld lot — the long-shuttered Six Flags amusement park adjacent to the Astrodome — announced plans to construct a multipurpose building there to host educational exhibits, seasonal rodeo shows and other events.
