Georgetown moves forward with rezoning of historic downtown jail

Georgetown City Council has taken the first formal step toward repurposing the city’s historic downtown jail, granting preliminary approval to rezone the property during its Jan. 13 meeting.

The site, located at 102 W. Third St., is owned by Williamson County. County officials requested the rezoning to change the property from a split designation of residential single-family and mixed-use downtown to a fully mixed-use downtown classification.

County leaders began preparing the site for future sale in November 2024 by removing nonhistoric additions and stripping the jail’s interior. The goal is to allow a wider range of redevelopment options once the property is marketed.

Because of its location near downtown Georgetown and businesses along Austin Avenue, county officials have previously said the site could be suited for uses such as a boutique hotel or a restaurant.

According to city documents, mixed-use downtown zoning supports a range of residential and commercial uses, including hotels, restaurants, single-family residences, parking areas, personal services, and banking or financial services. Developments under this zoning category are typically smaller in scale.

Planning staff noted that while the jail building is currently unoccupied, it carries a high-priority historic resource designation. That status brings additional regulatory oversight intended to preserve the structure’s historic character.

The Williamson County Jail was originally built in 1888 and served as the county’s primary jail until 1989. After that, the building was adapted for county and professional office use. In 2020, county officials stopped leasing the space due to safety concerns.

City Council is scheduled to consider final approval of the rezoning request at its Jan. 27 meeting.

The decision marks a careful step toward giving one of Georgetown’s oldest buildings a new role while keeping its history firmly intact.