WILLIAMSON COUNTY (Talk1370.com) -- Debate over the City of Austin's efforts to purchase a fourth hotel to house the city's homeless population reached a new level Tuesday, with Williamson County Commissioners voting to ask the city to delay its purchase for 180 days.
Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize County Judge Bill Gravell to send the letter to the City of Austin, asking the city to delay for 180 days the lease, contracting for or purchase of any property in the county for the temporary or permanent housing of homeless individuals.
On Thursday, City Council members are set to consider an agenda item that would approve $9.5 million to purchase the Candlewood Suites property at 10811 Pecan Park Boulevard, which is located inside the Austin city limits but in the portion that stretches into Williamson County.
Once renovations are made to the hotel, city staff says the property will provide roughly 80 units of permanent supportive housing.
District 6 council member Mackenzie Kelly successfully persuaded council members to delay action on the purchase for one week, to give time for constituents across her district to be better informed of the city's plans for the property. An online town hall meeting on the hotel purchase will be held Wednesday night with city representatives beginning at 6:30 p.m.
