Houston’s Riverside General Hospital Revived as Community Clinic

After more than a decade of silence, the historic Riverside General Hospital in Houston’s Third Ward is set to reopen later this month. This marks a new chapter for one of the city’s most notable medical institutions.

County officials confirmed that the long-closed facility will begin welcoming the public again on February 28. This is nearly 10 years after it closed due to financial and legal issues.

Once a critical source of care in one of Houston’s most underserved neighborhoods, the updated building will operate as a community-focused health and social services center. Its goal is to address ongoing health disparities in the area.

A Legacy Reborn

Opened in 1927 as the Houston Negro Hospital, Riverside became a vital resource for generations of residents. It later expanded and was renamed Riverside General Hospital, becoming one of southeast Texas’s leading care providers.

The original building at 3204 Ennis Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

However, chronic mismanagement and a major Medicare billing fraud scandal in the early 2010s contributed to Riverside’s decline, culminating in its closure in 2015.

Prosecutors at that time revealed tens of millions of dollars in false claims submitted by executives to federal programs. This case dealt a severe blow to the institution and created a gap in local health services.

A New Vision for Access

Now owned and led by Harris County, the campus has undergone significant changes focused on equity and accessibility. The county has invested approximately $200 million into the project, which will support renovations of the historic structures.

This funding will also create space for a coordinated range of services under one roof.

The building’s reopening will offer outpatient care, primary medical services, dental care, vaccinations, telehealth behavioral services, and coordinated casework programs. These connect residents with resources for transportation, housing, and food security, according to officials.

“This is not just about restoring buildings; it’s about restoring hope and ensuring fair access to healthcare,” said Leah Barton, Interim Executive Director of Harris County Public Health, according to reports.

This was during a previous ceremony marking the project’s opening. “We want healthcare that is available, fair, and inclusive for everyone.” She said,

Community Heartbeat

For many in the Third Ward, the reopening holds special meaning.

“I’m proud to be a part of something that started in my life,” said 92-year-old Dorothy Booker, according to reports. Dorothy is a longtime volunteer who first walked Riverside’s halls over four decades ago. “Helping the nurses and doctors was more than a job; it was a community,” she said.

County officials have emphasized that the clinic’s services will meet the changing needs of the community. This includes violence prevention programs, maternal health initiatives for Black women, and a mobile outreach team to assist residents beyond the campus boundaries.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, born at Riverside, has described the reopening as a historic revival and a commitment for the future. “We’re not just reopening a building,” he recently told local media. “We’re reigniting a mission of care that Third Ward desperately needs.”

Beyond Healthcare

The revitalized Riverside is set to function as more than a clinic. It will be a community hub that combines social services and healthcare.

County leaders believe that consolidating essential resources under one roof will lower barriers to care and improve health outcomes in a neighborhood that has long experienced systemic health inequalities.

As the doors prepare to open later this month, residents and officials are hopeful that the revival of Riverside General Hospital will not only heal bodies but also strengthen the community.