December 2, 2023

Austin City Council set to buy hotel to house the homeless

The Austin City Council voted Wednesday to purchase a hotel at Burnet Road and U.S….

Austin City Council set to buy hotel to house the homeless
Austin City Council set to buy hotel to house the homeless
Texas Bungalows Hotel & Suites on Burnet Road is one of two hotels being the city is considering purchasing for those experiencing homelessness.

The Austin City Council voted Wednesday to purchase a hotel at Burnet Road and U.S. 183 to turn into transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The council unanimously voted to buy the Texas Bungalow Hotel & Suites at 13311 Burnet Road for $6.7 million. Its purchase is the latest in a strategy from the city to buy hotels to house the homeless.

A second hotel near U.S. 183 and the Texas 45 toll road on the northern outskirts of Austin was also set to be purchased. However, at the behest of Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, that vote was put off for a week.

Kelly has shown some resistance to the purchase of that hotel, the Candlewood Suites at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd. It lies in her district and its purchase marks a difficult vote for the new council member, who campaigned heavily on a platform that many of the city’s policies regarding homelessness were not beneficial.