Live Oak County Courthouse - Phase I Restoration

The Live Oak County Courthouse at 301 Houston St. in George West is undergoing a $1,992,885 renovation to restore its historic character. The project, filed as Live Oak County Courthouse - Phase I Restoration, covers 18,225 sq ft of construction work. TDLR completed plan review in October 2024, and construction was scheduled to finish in December 2025; TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, so the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record.

Scope of Work

The renovation focuses on the restoration of the exterior facade, specifically the reconstruction of historic windows and doors. Interior work includes the partial rehabilitation of spaces, involving the installation of new walls, new millwork, and new HVAC systems. This comprehensive approach aims to preserve the building's historical integrity while updating its internal functionality.

Fisher Heck Architects, Inc. serves as the design firm of record for this project. The registered accessibility specialist is Jessica Trevino Hamm. The project utilizes public funds and involves public land, reflecting its status as a county facility. The estimated cost of $109 per square foot places this renovation above the county median for similar work, which stands at $71 per square foot based on recent TDLR filings.

Context and Comparison

Live Oak County has four other TDLR-registered projects totaling $3,660,980, including a separate $3,000,000 courthouse project and renovations to local parks and facilities. Fisher Heck Architects, Inc. has five other projects on record totaling $13,990,755, ranging from church restorations to civic halls. The scheduled build window for this courthouse renovation is 365 days, which is longer than the county median of 159 days for comparable renovation and alteration filings.

The surrounding area, ZIP code 78022, has a population of about 4,694 residents with a median household income of $56,989. Local businesses near the site include AA Best Bail Bonds, Live Oak Insurance Agency, and a UPS Authorized Shipping Provider. The Live Oak County unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in June 2026, higher than a year earlier. The project’s status remains in review complete, with no final inspection recorded in the public TDLR data.