On November 5, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court and the Conroe City Council each voted unanimously to approve an agreement that will split the required local match for a Texas Historical Commission grant aimed at restoring the county’s historic 1936 courthouse.
Grant and matching funds
The Texas Historical Commission awarded Montgomery County a $1.8 million grant through its courthouse preservation program. To accept the grant, the commission requires a local match of 30%, or $773,249. Montgomery County will cover half of that amount, while Conroe will provide the remaining $386,624 from its hotel tax fund.
Purpose of the restoration
County officials say the grant‑funded design work will return the courthouse to its original 1936 appearance and modernize the top two floors, which currently serve as jail space, to create additional courtroom capacity. Deputy chief of staff Jason Smith emphasized that the building must remain a working courthouse, noting that the wings added decades later are not part of the current restoration plan.
Future plans
Both jurisdictions view the project as a stepping stone toward a larger justice center that will eventually house most county courts in downtown Conroe. While the county plans to ask voters to approve a bond for the new justice center, that question has been delayed for the time being.
Smith indicated the county will seek additional state construction funding in the next legislative session and may later ask Conroe to share in those construction costs. Conroe Council member David Hairel, who initially raised concerns about the city’s share, expressed confidence that the project will benefit the community.
Local impact
Preserving the historic courthouse aligns with community values of heritage and civic pride. The architectural firm handling the design also restored the Harris County Courthouse, earning praise from Smith, who likened the restored building to “a scene from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’”
Original reporting: Community Impact — Houston — read the source article.
