Austin City Council punts a vote on buying an ABIA adjacent motel till next month.
That’s as problems pop up around the Microtel Inn and Suites. For instance, the property isn’t zoned to allow permanent supportive housing and that’s an issue, as Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales told Council, that’s a goal for all of the properties involved in the Motel to Shelter program. “I did provide to council a memo our process for selecting motels. We use various screening factors including, building condition, plumbing and utilities; which is really important because its the intension of ECHO to convert these motel units to permanent supportive housing.”
Another concern of Council is how the shelter will be funded. Gonzalez explains the funds to run the shelter would be raised by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). “There is a concern ofcourse that ECHO does acheive its fundraising targets, which is $6-million over the next two years.” Gonzales recommended, the city hold off on any more purchases following the Microtel Inn and Suites, until ECHO raises 25{15c2ce8669a1ed2f74ebf6ef168f05679f17d95790f1cbb6a225857870a08390} of its stated $6-million goal.
Austin’s mayor Steve Adler said its best if the city take more time on this potential $7.8 million purchase.
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