Hidalgo County Remote Operations Center - Precinct 1: in Elsa, TX

The Hidalgo County Remote Operations Center - Precinct 1 is a new 6,000 square foot facility located at 708 E. Edinburg Ave., Elsa, TX 78543. This construction project is designed to support emergency response and administrative functions within the county's jurisdiction. The building includes two pass-through bays, dedicated offices, dormitories, a training room, and a commercial kitchen, creating a comprehensive hub for county operations in Precinct 1.

Hidalgo County is the owner of record for this development, which is estimated to cost $2,400,000. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in October 2024, with plan review completed in the same month. Construction was scheduled to begin in December 2024 and finish in December 2025. Although the scheduled completion date has passed, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, meaning the current operational status of the site is not confirmed in the public record.

Design and Construction Details

Milnet Architectural Services, PLLC serves as the design firm of record for this facility. The registered accessibility specialist is Jose Ricardo Guerrero. The project involves public funds and public land, reflecting the county's investment in local infrastructure. The estimated cost of $2,400,000 translates to approximately $400 per square foot, a figure that is above the county median for new construction projects in Hidalgo County.

According to TDLR filings, the median estimated cost for similar new construction projects in Hidalgo County is $664,320. This project’s cost is in the top quarter of filings, indicating a higher investment relative to the county average. The scheduled build window of 365 days is longer than the county median of 212 days, suggesting a complex construction timeline. The facility size of 6,000 square feet matches the median size for new construction in the area.

Regional Context

Elisa is located in Hidalgo County, a region with a population of approximately 8,608 in ZIP code 78543. The median household income in this area is $47,657, and the median owner-occupied home value is $85,900. Hidalgo County has a robust construction sector, with 481 new construction projects registered in the last 24 months. The unemployment rate in Hidalgo County was 6.8 percent in July 2026, higher than a year earlier, reflecting broader economic conditions in the region.

Other projects by Hidalgo County include the 2812 CRC Facility in Precinct 4 in Edinburg, valued at $6,200,000, and the Judge Mario E. Ramirez, Jr. Juvenile Justice Center in Weslaco, valued at $4,800,000. These projects highlight the county’s ongoing investment in public safety and administrative infrastructure. The Remote Operations Center in Elsa is part of this broader effort to enhance county-wide operations and emergency response capabilities.