The N. Houston Development Corp. (TIRZ 11) is a close partner of the North Houston District that works to improve the quality of life in North Houston by providing public amenities in addition to improving the infrastructure and mobility in the area. The City of Houston recently started construction on a new major project partially funded by TIRZ 11 that will further strengthen public safety partnerships in our area. 

On August 12, 2025, local leaders gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of construction of the new Houston Police Department North Belt Substation.

The event featured remarks and a symbolic shovel turning by several key figures, including City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire, HPD Chief J. Noe Diaz, Houston Fire Chief Thomas Munoz, HPD Captain C.T. Harrington,  and North Houston Development Corporation Executive Director Sally Bradford. 

Expected to open next summer, this new facility underscores the strong collaboration between city leadership, law enforcement, and public safety agencies working together to build a safer future for North Houston.

Investing in Safety & Security: New Police Substation Ensures Long-Term HPD Presence in the North Houston District

The 27,000 square-foot police substation will be the new headquarters for the Houston Police Department North Belt Division. The police substation will share a 10-acre parcel with Houston Fire Department Fire Station 84, off Gears Road in the District’s Northwest Quadrant.

The City of Houston and the N. Houston Development Corp. (TIRZ 11) are collaborating on the project, sharing the cost of the over $20 million construction. The North Houston District is an advocate of the project. “We’re proud to bring this project to fruition in partnership with the City of Houston,” says Sally Bradford, TIRZ 11 Executive Director.

First Co-Located Public Safety Facility in the City of Houston

More than 10 years ago, TIRZ 11 purchased a 10-acre parcel with the concept of a shared base of operations for HPD and HFD. The plans included joint fueling and washing facilities, and parking—the first joint operations in the City of Houston—saving resources and tax dollars.

“Officials were originally looking at a smaller three-acre property with a water tower for the fire station, but it didn’t quite meet the needs of the project. TIRZ 11 stepped up to purchase a suitable 10-acre tract and donated it to the City for the joint fire and police base,” Bradford says. 

Station 84, a ground-up construction project, was completed on April 1, 2015, and funded by TIRZ 11. A vision over a decade in the making, the North Belt Substation will soon have its own building on the same acreage as HFD Station 84.

Houston Police Department North Belt Division

In January 2018, HPD established the North Belt Division to better serve four beats located adjacent to Beltway 8 on the north side of Houston that were previously serviced by three patrol divisions: Northwest, North, and Northeast. The North Belt Division covers Willowbrook, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and the TIRZ 11/North Houston District region. Currently, the North Belt Division operates out of a leased space at 100 Glenborough on the 10th floor. 

The North Houston District advocated for the North Belt Substation to be located within the District’s boundaries, and to make it happen, committed to funding the temporary lease at 100 Glenborough through an interlocal agreement with the City of Houston. “Once the North Belt Division was created, we began to work with HPD to find a location in the area. We knew it was important to have HPD here for our constituents, so we helped them find a temporary space until a more permanent home could be established,” says Bart Baker, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the North Houston District.

“The office space has been a great base for the North Belt Division since 2018, however, we are excited to see the positive impact that a tailor-built space will have on the types of public safety programs that can be implemented and the ways that we collaborate with our law enforcement partners,” shares Tracy Harrison, the North Houston District Vice President of Public Safety.

Check back for updates as the project progresses!