Austin's 2nd motel for homeless will cost up to $6.8 million
Less than a month after the Austin City Council approved an $8 million purchase and renovation of a motel in Southeast Austin to provide housing to the city’s homeless, council members on Monday will consider the purchase of a second motel for $6.8 million.
The Microtel Inn and Suites at 7705 Metro Center Drive, near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, is a 71-room motel situated in a cluster of hotels immediately southwest of the intersection of East Ben White Boulevard and U.S. 183.
“The property is an ideal location given the proximity to areas where individuals who are experiencing homelessness live, accessible by public transportation, close to major arterials, and within reasonable distance of health care facilities,” city documents said.
The property sits on a 1.4-acre lot and is valued at nearly $5.6 million, according to the Travis Central Appraisal District. City leaders plan to allocate another $1 million to the project for renovations, bringing the grand total to $7.8 million.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20191206/austins-2nd-motel-for-homeless-will-cost-up-to-68-million