Austin Council approves $4.3 million purchase for city-run homeless navigation center amid heavy neighborhood protest

Austin — The Austin City Council voted 8–3 on Oct. 9 to approve the purchase of a property along Interstate 35 to become a city‑owned homeless navigation center, approving the acquisition after more than six hours of public testimony split between neighbors worried about proximity to schools and advocates who said the site would improve service access.

Councilmember Ryan Alter moved to approve Item 17 and Councilmember Paige Ellis seconded; the motion carried with eight votes in favor and three opposed (Councillors Duchin, Velásquez and Kadri/Cadre). Mayor Watson presided over the meeting, which convened at 10 a.m. and resumed public comment after a noon recess.

The decision follows weeks of community outreach and dozens of speakers at a marathon council session. Opponents urged delay until the city produced a detailed, binding operating and safety plan, pointing to management problems at the existing Sunrise navigation facility and to the site’s proximity to…