8.9 Acres next to Ben Taub:
Parkland, Parking Garage, or
Patient Rooms
SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.tmohouston.org/supportbentaubexpansion
Ben Taub Hospital is only one of two Level 1 Trauma Centers/Emergency Rooms currently in the region. They provide the highest level of emergency care to extremely sick or badly injured people who need lifesaving care. Ben Taub operates every day at over capacity, with people backed up in the Emergency Room because there are no beds available in the rest of the hospital. The number of ER visits and need for inpatient care at Ben Taub will grow by 22% over the next 4 years.
Tell the Harris County Commissioners Court to let Harris Health use voter-approved bond funds to expand Ben Taub by another 100 rooms. Continue scrolling for more information regarding the expansion.
UPCOMING HEARINGS
Commissioner Adrian Garcia Pct. 2 Town Hall:
January 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM at BakerRipley Ripley House Campus (4410 Navigation Blvd., Houston, 77011)
Commissioner Lesley Briones Pct. 4 Town Hall:
January 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM at Tracee Gee Community Center (3599 Westcenter Dr.)
Commissioners Court: decision whether to move forward with eminent domain
January 29, 2026 at 9 AM at 1001 Preston Rd
proposed expansion
Background
In 2023, over 73% of voters supported Harris Health’s $2.5 billion bond election, including an expansion of Ben Taub Hospital by 100 rooms. The new LBJ hospital in Northeast Houston is well underway. The Ben Taub expansion cannot move forward, however, until Harris Health has the land on which to build it. The expansion cannot be built on top of the existing Ben Taub for structural reasons or on the existing Ben Taub campus because there is no room. Building the new rooms at a distant location is not possible since the new rooms have to be connected to a licensed hospital.
The Issue
The only location available is right across the street from the Ben Taub ER/Trauma Center and could be connected by a sky bridge. See the map on reverse side. The land is 8.9 acres of Hermann Park that is currently undeveloped and separated from the rest of the park by a very busy Cambridge Street. The 2017 Master Plan of the Hermann Park Conservancy calls for that land to be turned into a parking garage to serve the people who come to the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park Golf Course and Miller Theater. So the choice is actually whether the land remains as undeveloped parkland or is used for a parking garage or patient beds.
While no one likes losing parkland, TMO believes the Harris County Judge and Commissioners must approve acquiring the land from the City of Houston through eminent domain. An independent commission will determine how much Harris Health must pay to the City of Houston, as owners of the land, and to the heirs of the person who donated the land in 1914 to be used only as parkland. They will all be fairly compensated and the City of Houston could use their funds to build a parking garage on three acres of nearby City-owned land.
Call to Action
Contact the Harris County Judge and Commissioners to let them know that you support expanding Ben Taub on the parkland across from its Emergency Room/Level 1 Trauma Center. Please contact TMO or go the www.tmohouston.org or to www.harrishealth.org for more information. Send your message of support for Ben Taub to these e-mail addresses:
[email protected] and to [email protected].
Please send a copy to TMO at email.tmohouston@gmail
For more information:
Hermann Park Conservancy website
Conservancy position and FAQ's about expansion
