GLO MIT-MOD Contract No. 24-065-152-F011 & FEMA Project No. DR-4485-0067 in Port Lavaca, TX

The Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Port Lavaca is constructing a new 6,060 sq ft facility at 873 Margie Tewmey Road #1. This new construction project includes the demolition of the existing fire station building and parking area, followed by the installation of new fire station and parking facilities. The estimated cost for this project is $2,400,000, which computes to $396 per square foot. Calhoun County is the owner of record, and G&W Engineers, Inc. serves as the design firm.

TDLR completed plan review in March 2026 and construction is scheduled to finish in March 2027, with work starting March 2026. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in December 2025. Justin K Walton is the registered accessibility specialist for this filing. The site is located inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, specifically zone AE, according to the National Flood Hazard Layer.

Project Context and Comparisons

This project’s estimated cost is above the county median for new construction in Calhoun County, placing it in the top quarter of 81 registered filings. The median estimated cost for similar projects in the county is $600,000, with a median size of 6,060 sq ft and a median cost of $101 per square foot. The scheduled build window for this project is 365 days, which is longer than the county median of 213 days. Calhoun County has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $4,449,666, including facilities in Seadrift and Port Lavaca.

G&W Engineers, Inc. has been involved in five other TDLR-registered projects totaling $2,847,600. These include the Little Chocolate Bayou County Park and the Seawall Restroom in Seadrift. The Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Department serves the community of Port Lavaca, Texas. Third-party listings, such as those on stationboss.net, confirm the address and volunteer staffing model of the department. The project involves public funds and public land, as indicated by the funding source description in the filing.

Local Area Profile

Port Lavaca, located in Calhoun County, has a population of about 16,179 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates for ZIP 77979. The median household income is $68,877, and the median owner-occupied home value is $137,700. There are 7,797 housing units in the area, with housing predominantly owner-occupied. The Calhoun County unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in July 2026, higher than a year earlier. This new fire station will serve the local community with updated facilities for emergency response.