Astrodome Study Expanded to Include Demolition Without Parking, Drawing Rebuke from Conservancy

Harris County officials expand taxpayer-funded study to include tearing down protected landmark

The Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation has quietly expanded a taxpayer-funded study of the Astrodome to include a cost estimate for demolishing the iconic structure without building replacement parking. The move has drawn fierce criticism from preservation advocates who say Harris County is wasting public funds on demolition plans for a protected historic landmark that may not even be legally feasible.

The HCSCC board of directors approved the expanded scope during its November 19 meeting, adding the new demolition scenario to a study already examining three other demolition options that would convert the site to parking. Unlike prior demolition scenarios tied to expanding parking capacity at NRG Park, the newly added option does not contemplate any replacement use for the site.

The organization did not provide a cost estimate for the expanded scope, though the initial study was budgeted not to exceed $350,000 in public funds. According to the Conservancy, Harris County has a…