A new administrative facility in Southwest Houston will be named after the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as a tribute to her decades of public service. Construction of the facility, in Harris County Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 390, will be completed in the fall of 2026.
“It [facility] is really going to be the center of the community, of convening, of leadership development, socializing, to break down barriers, to embrace diversity,” said Erica Lee Carter, daughter of Congresswoman Jackson Lee. “She [Jackson Lee] was always about breaking down barriers and building bridges to the broad community…and I am just tremendously proud that they chose to name such a place after my dear mother.”
Deidre Rasheed, president of the MUD 390 board, said the 10,000-square-foot facility’s name was a fitting tribute to Jackson Lee’s legacy. She added that local leadership considered several factors while planning the facility, such as the lack of access to gyms, Wi-Fi and computers faced by the community’s children and small businesses.
“Health and fitness are often overpriced in minority communities and they make unhealthy living very inexpensive and healthy living very expensive,” Rasheed said.
Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis reflected on Jackson Lee’s legacy, emphasizing the importance of remembering and emulating her commitment to serving the community.
“If we don’t make sure that future generations know the story of this daughter of immigrants who served so many, then no one else will,” Ellis said.
U.S. Rep. Al Green, whose district the facility will be established, praised the community’s commitment to growth and connection.
“The people of this district care about more than just utilities; they care about the community, about the schools and the people who live here,” Green said.
Features of the facility
Located at 1823 Almeda Genoa, west of Highway 288, the facility will serve a geographical area of over 867 acres, including City Park, City Oaks subdivision, and City Gate.
It will include:
- An entrance lobby wall dedicated to the memory of Jackson Lee, with artifacts her family will donate
- A garden, where stones with quotations from the late Congresswoman will be displayed
- A substation for the Harris County Precinct Seven deputy constables to ensure safety in the community
- An ADA-compliant kitchen with wheelchair accommodations and a pass-through window to an outdoor area for easy access to drinks and snacks
- An assembly space that can be subdivided into three smaller rooms with built-in benches, and large-screen televisions, for meetings, conferences, or training
- Designated study space for students and professionals
- A meeting room for the MUD
- A wellness center with exercise equipment and locker rooms
- A sports complex, swimming pool, courts for basketball, tennis, and pickleball and a soccer pitch
The process
MUD 390 went through an “eminent domain,” in which the government provides “just compensation” to private property for public use. Rasheed said the office had to file a condemnation case and offer the owner $4.8 million, which was “three to four times the amount” that the property was appraised at, and who later demanded “six times” the appraised amount.
“When I see someone trying to take advantage of taxpayers, it is very concerning,” she said.
Rasheed said that in addition to conducting several appraisals to accurately gauge the property’s worth, the office ensured all facilities were ADA-compliant and considered community input.
While the land is still under litigation, construction will continue as planned, said Matthew Reed, Partner at Schwartz, Page & Harding.
