TDCJ - Hobby Unit Construct Multi-Use Facility in Marlin, TX

The Hobby Unit Multi-Use Facility is a new 10,000 sq ft building at 742 FM 712 in Marlin, Falls County. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is constructing this metal building system for educational and office use on an existing campus. The estimated cost is $3,000,000, which computes to $300 per square foot.

Negrete & Kolar Architects, LLP is the design firm of record for the Hobby Unit Multi-Use Facility. The project was registered with TDLR in March 2025. The scope includes offices and multi-use activities, with sidewalks connecting to existing infrastructure. No parking is being added or adjusted. Kathy Ann Riley is the registered accessibility specialist.

Cost and Scale Context

Among 21 TDLR-registered new construction filings in Falls County, this project’s estimated cost is above the county median of $1,000,000. The median size for comparable projects is 7,642 sq ft, and the median cost per square foot is $312. The scheduled build window of 365 days is close to the county median of 334 days. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $151,500,000, including facilities in Bonham, Edinburg, Socorro, Bryan, and Lubbock.

Plan review was completed in March 2025, with construction scheduled to start in June 2025 and finish in June 2026. Although the scheduled completion date has passed, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection. Therefore, the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record. The project involves public funds and public land.

Falls County has a population of approximately 7,266 within ZIP 76661, with a median household income of $40,379. The median owner-occupied home value in this area is $52,100. The unemployment rate in Falls County was 4.4 percent in July 2026. This facility will serve the TDCJ’s Hobby Unit campus, adding dedicated space for educational and administrative functions.