HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston City Council approved a multi-million-dollar lease agreement with the Houston police officers' pension system to acquire 1600 Smith Street.

The public works director said the goal is to purchase the building in 2026.

This comes after electrical, mechanical, and 'life safety' issues at 1200 Travis, which is Houston Police Department Headquarters, and 611 Walker, which houses public works and multiple city departments.

Public works director Randy Macchi said people in those buildings have experienced recent flooding, causing employees to have to work from home, not having drinking water, and people getting stuck on elevators, and the fire department having to help.

In July, he said it would cost nearly $600 million to keep both buildings and fix all the

See Full Page