Port Isabel Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage and Restroom Renovation

The Port Isabel Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage and Restroom Renovation is a $400,000 accessibility project located at 423 E. Queen Isabella Blvd in Port Isabel, Texas. Registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in December 2025, this alteration work targets an 851-square-foot historic structure. The Texas Historical Commission holds ownership of the property, engaging Megamorphosis, Inc. as the design firm and Felipe Guerrero as the registered accessibility specialist to ensure compliance with state standards.

Project Scope and Financials

The filing details the renovation of the existing Keeper's Cottage and restrooms. With an estimated cost of $400,000 for 851 square feet of work, the project carries a cost per square foot of $470. This figure sits significantly above the Cameron County median for renovation and alteration projects, which stands at $75 per square foot. The total budget reflects the specialized nature of working within a historic landmark while upgrading facilities for accessibility.

Timeline and Status

TDLR completed the plan review in January 2026, marking a key milestone in the regulatory process. Construction is scheduled to finish in October 2026, with work starting December 2025. This creates a scheduled build window of 312 days, which is longer than the county median of 121 days for similar projects. The current TDLR status is listed as Review Complete, indicating that the plans have met initial regulatory requirements before physical work commenced.

This project involves public funds and public land, categorizing it under specific public oversight requirements. It is one of four TDLR-registered projects for the Texas Historical Commission, which has also filed for work on the Iwo Jima Monument & Museum, the Iwo Jima Operations Building, and the Caddo Mounds Cultural Center. The design firm, Megamorphosis, Inc., has a broader portfolio in the region, including the City of Brownsville Public Safety Complex and the Cameron County Annex Facility.

Located in ZIP code 78578, the project sits in an area with a median household income of $52,041 and a median owner-occupied home value of $193,700 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 estimates. The local labor market in Cameron County reported an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent in August 2026, providing context for the regional workforce availability during the construction phase.