Ward County Animal Shelter

Ward County is building a new 3,041 sq ft animal shelter at 301 East Monahans Parkway in Monahans. The project, filed under the name Ward County Animal Shelter, has an estimated cost of $1,000,000. This new construction effort is part of a broader portfolio of county facilities, including the Ward Memorial Hospital and the Ward County Library, all located within the same municipality.

Burns Architecture, LLC is the design firm of record for this project. The firm has been involved in other Texas construction projects, such as the Runnels County jail upgrades and the West Texas Centers for MHMR expansion. The registered accessibility specialist for this filing is Jeffery L Kelley. TDLR completed plan review in December 2023, establishing the regulatory framework for the build.

Construction Timeline and Status

Construction was scheduled to begin in March 2024, with a planned completion date of September 2025. The scheduled build window of 549 days is longer than the county median of 273 days for similar new construction filings. Despite the passing of the scheduled completion date, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection. Therefore, the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record, and the project’s final status remains pending official closure.

The estimated cost of $1,000,000 places this project below the Ward County median estimated cost of $1,200,000 for new construction. However, the cost per square foot is $329, which is above the county median of $221 per sq ft. This pricing structure reflects the specific scope of the animal shelter facility, which includes specialized housing and care areas distinct from general-purpose county buildings.

Monahans is a small community in Ward County with a population of about 9,558 according to U.S. Census estimates. The median household income is $70,924, and the median owner-occupied home value is $153,200. The construction of a new county animal shelter adds to the local infrastructure, complementing existing services such as the Monahans Independent School District and the Ward County Event Center Park. The project utilizes public funds and public land, underscoring its role in local civic services.