St. Clare of Assisi Church Renovation in Houston, TX

The St. Clare of Assisi Church Renovation at 3131 El Dorado Blvd in Houston, TX 77059, is a completed interior project involving the alteration of an existing 24,287 sq ft church structure. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston commissioned the work, with Studio Red Architects serving as the design firm of record. Meghan Broussard Simecek registered as the accessibility specialist for this renovation, which carries an estimated cost of $2,221,231. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in July 2025, following plan review completion that same month. Construction officially began in September 2025, targeting a completion date of July 2026. The building passed its final TDLR accessibility inspection in November 2026, so construction is complete.

Project Scope and Financials

This renovation focused on the interior of the church, distinct from new construction. The total estimated cost of $2,221,231 translates to approximately $91 per square foot for the 24,287 sq ft facility. This cost per square foot is close to the county median of $80 for similar renovation or alteration filings in Harris County. However, the total estimated cost is above the county median for its type, placing it in the top quarter of comparable projects. The scheduled build window of 333 days is longer than the county median of 92 days, reflecting the complexity of interior alterations within an existing religious structure.

Local Context and Ownership

The project sits within ZIP code 77059, where U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates place the population at about 18,386 residents. Median household income in this area is reported at $166,614, with 6,668 housing units predominantly owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home value stands at $395,800. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has one other TDLR-registered project totaling $3,527,512, also named St. Clare of Assisi in Houston with review complete. Studio Red Architects has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $40,714,802, including work in Richmond, Cypress, Rosenberg, Missouri City, and Spring.

City of Houston permit records show two permits on file at this street address, issued between January 2026 and January 2026. Funding for this specific accessibility work is private, situated on private land for private use. A Facebook post by StudioREDArchitects described the project as a Houston landmark renewed for its next chapter, noting updates for 2026 and 2027. The Harris County unemployment rate in September 2026 was 4.6 percent, lower than a year earlier.