Houston City Council voted Wednesday to try to sell two longtime municipal towers downtown, a move that could generate a windfall for the city and, in time, perhaps remake the Houston skyline.
The towers up for sale are 1200 Travis, the headquarters of the Houston Police Department, and 611 Walker Street, which houses numerous city departments, including Houston Public Works.
Both buildings, built in the 1960s as offices for energy companies, have steadily deteriorated after several decades under public ownership, city leaders have said. Maintenance costs for the police headquarters had grown to $20 million annually by 2024, while rehabilitating 611 Walker – which has significant water pipe, electrical and elevator issues – would have cost an estimated $323 million, the city found in 2025…