Hockley County has set plans in place to increase parking downtown by demolishing three buildings South of the tax office.
Sharla Baldridge, Hockley County judge explained the county bought four buildings downtown with ARPA funds to expand the counties real estate.
“One of the key factors in deciding to expand was that the county could use ARPA funds to buy the buildings,” Baldridge said. “It was a really good opportunity for the county to expand without passing the cost of expansion onto the taxpayers.” Baldridge anticipates the demolition and parking lot to be completed by the end of the summer.
“The timeline for the parking lot, we hope will be finished by the end of summer,” Baldridge said. “We’re having to do some stuff before we can get a demolition permit from the City. We’re really working hard to try to get that parking lot done as quickly as possible.”
Baldridge said the parking lot would increase space for employee parking and extra parking for downtown events.
“There’s a great need for more parking downtown and we’re trying to free up some space down there, so we have more parking available not only for our employees but for the public when there’s events on the square,” Baldridge said.
Hockley County also bought the Ricker Law Firm building but does not currently have any plans in place as to what the county will use the building for.
“The purpose for that building is still to be determined by the court. Right now, our goal is to get the parking lot done, get that situated and start looking at possibilities for the law office,” Baldridge said. “Hockley County is always gonna need more room and needs to have expansion possibilities, and that gives us great possibility having that building there on the corner and great proximity to having all our county offices located in the same intersection.”
Baldridge said the county currently has a need to continue expanding and discussed the convenience of county offices being located close to each other.
“It’s just a great opportunity for us to make some more room and expand county offices when we find the need or when we decide which purpose we want it to serve,” Baldridge said. “It’s a great opportunity for the county to have expansion and being centrally located area where you could essentially walk from the courthouse to any of those areas.”