Plans that have existed for over a decade to build a new civil courthouse in Travis County are finally coming to fruition. On Friday, May 31, at 2 p.m., county leaders will assemble for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility at 1700 Guadalupe St. Speakers will include County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, Commissioner Brigid Shea, Civil District Court Judge Lora Livingston and Austin Bar Association President Adam Schramek. In November 2015, voters narrowly defeated a $287 million bond proposition to build a new courthouse on county-owned land at 308 Guadalupe St., forcing the county to find a new way to build a new facility, which leaders of the legal community said was desperately needed. The county leased the 308 Guadalupe St. property and entered into a 99-year partnership with a private developer that will own the land, build the facility and lease it to the county. The price tag is estimated at $344 million.
This whisper has been changed since publication to update the date of the ceremony.