The Texas Historical Commission voted April 23 to terminate a 2002 historic preservation easement on the vacant Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi, clearing the way for the county to pursue demolition and future uses of the county-owned site.

The action followed public comment from Nueces County leaders and staff presentations that described the 1914 courthouse as in advanced physical decline and without a viable re-use plan. County Judge Connie Scott and County Commissioner Mike Pusley told the commission the building has sat empty for about 50 years, has extensive saltwater- and weather-related deterioration and is a public-safety concern.

Why it matters: The 96,000-square-foot courthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and a state antiquities landmark. Termination of the easement removes one legal barrier to demolition and reuse of the site but also requires further THC approvals because the building carries state-level protections.

Details of the commission action and conditions
- The commission approved a motion to terminate the easement contingent on several mitigation measures the county must complete: publication of a book documenting the courthouse’s history in partnership with Texas A&M University; salvaging specified architectural features for archival or exhibit use; and development of exhibits tied to the salvaged material. The motion also directed staff to issue a historic buildings and structures permit for demolition when a complete demolition permit application is submitted.
- Staff advised the commission that a prorated settlement figure could be calculated to recoup part of the prior Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program construction grant (originally about $1.9 million). The staff example prorated repayment for the remaining life of the 25-year easement would be approximately $177,333 for the 28 months left on the term; the county indicated it could not pay settlement funds.
- Because the courthouse is also a state antiquities landmark, any demolition will require a Historic Buildings and Structures (antiquities) permit; THC rules require due diligence, alternatives analysis and documentation of the building that will be lost (Historic American Buildings Survey-level documentation is the usual standard).

What the commission discussed
Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed the case as unusual and exceptional, noting the building’s long vacancy, the failed redevelopment attempt in 2018 and continuing deterioration, including missing or failing roofs and corroding masonry ties. Commissioners stressed this case should be handled as an exception and documented in the record so it does not become precedent for routine easement releases.

Opposition, abstention and vote
The motion passed by voice vote; the chair recorded one nay and one abstention in the roll call associated with the vote. Commissioners asked the county and local partners to include visible interpretation at the site so the public understands what once stood there.

Next steps and implementation
- If the county submits a demolition permit application for the state antiquities landmark, THC staff will review the permit application and the documentation package and may require supplemental HABS-level documentation before issuing a permit.
- THC staff will work with the county on the salvage plan and the planned book and exhibit content described in the commission-approved conditions.

Context and background
The 1914 Harvey Page–designed courthouse had previously received THC grants through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program; the county accepted a 2002 easement required by that grant. A 2023 structural assessment found the building salvageable in principle but estimated adaptive-reuse costs far above what the county could or would undertake. A 2018 attempt to redevelop the building fell through and the county reported it now faces substantial deferred maintenance and safety issues that it says cannot be addressed within available local resources.

Ending note
The commission’s action shifts the focus from preservation funding to documentation and salvage as the county pursues a new plan for the site. THC staff emphasized demolition would not occur until the permitting and documentation requirements imposed under the antiquities code are satisfied.