Health care
BY SARAH BRAGER
Hermann Park land to be ceased for $410M hospital expansion
The Harris Health board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution Sept. 23 calling for the acquisition of 8.9 acres, or 2%, of Hermann Park, to support the expansion of Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, according to a news release. The $410 million project would add approximately 100 patient rooms to the hospital, which has been consistently operating at and beyond its 402-bed capacity, according to the release. Funding for the project comes from Harris Health’s $2.5 billion bond that voters approved in 2023. Esmaeil Porsa, Harris Health president and CEO, said that the acquisition is only the beginning of a lengthy multi-step process, which will include notifying all property interest holders and holders of a reversionary interest in the selected parcels. All interest holders are expected to be paid the fair market value of their interests, as determined during the eminent domain process, he said. Ben Taub Hospital is one of only two adult-level 1 trauma centers in Harris County.
Key
Hermann Park
City property Ben Taub Hospital Hospital expansion Proposed land
Houston Zoo
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SOURCES: © GOOGLE MAPS, HARRIS HEALTH COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Something to note
Harris County’s population is expected to grow by 3.4 million new residents by 2050 Ben Taub is expected to grow by approximately 18,000 emergency room visits over the next 10 years Approximately 1 million residents in Harris County were uninsured, as of early 2025
Porsa said that the parkland acquisition is the only conducive use of space for expanding the hospital, a project, he said, is needed as the county continues to see its uninsured population grow. “Harris County has the largest uninsured population in Texas and one of the largest in the country,” Porsa said. “Those numbers are likely to get worse as more residents lose their Medicaid eligibility, lose access to health insurance and as our economy worsens.”
Cara Lambright, President and CEO of the Hermann Park Conservancy, said in a release Oct. 9, that while the park understands the critical need for expanded health care access, the conservancy believes in the role that public parks play in the physical, mental and emotional health of the city. The section of land designated for the hospital expansion is separated from the rest of Hermann Park by Cambridge Street.
SOURCES: BEN TAUB, TEXAS A&M REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER, TEXAS360 COMMUNITY IMPACT
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
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