AUSTIN, Texas — A bill discussed during the Senate Committee on Local Government meeting on Monday took aim at Austin.
Senate Bill 617 would require city councils to let the public weigh in before converting property into housing for the homeless. This all relates to Pecan Gardens in northwest Austin.
What happened with Pecan Gardens?
Back in 2021, the Austin City Council approved a plan to buy the Candlewood Suites Hotel in Southern Williamson County for $9.5 million, to relocate and house the homeless from Downtown Austin.
However, Williamson County Commissioners pushed back and even sued the city for not discussing the deal with them.
Council then struck a deal with Family Eldercare to renovate the hotel and turn it into Pecan Gardens, a permanent supporting housing community for unhoused seniors 55 and older.
But Rupal Chaudhari, whose family owns the Hampton Inn and the Hilton on Pecan Park Boulevard in northwest Austin said the city acquiring and changing the former Candlewood Suite hotel caught neighbors off guard.
“It is taxpayers’ money,” Chaudhari said. “Where’s the accountability? Where’s the transparency to this process? Who was notified that this is OK out here?”
She said it was several months until they were able to get in contact with Austin leaders.
“It just seemed like there was no communications, and we asked questions and got no responses,” Chaudhari said. “I think the questions that we raised still stand today.”
Since then, the neighbors in the area have been fighting for more transparency.
Lawmakers fight for more municipal transparency
In the last two legislative sessions, State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) filed two bills that would require cities to give notice and hold public hearings before converting a property into a homeless shelter.
“They took this step without any notification of Williamson County officials, much less neighboring businesses or homes,” Schwertner said. “This lack of transparency and coordination not only undermined trust but also left the community vulnerable with no clear plan to support at risk populations.”
This session, Schwertner made another attempt at more transparency, by filing Senate Bill 617.
In addition to providing notices and public hearings, the bill would require the city staff to mail public notices about the hearing to people within a 1-mile radius, giving them at least 36 hours notice. It would also allow people to sue cities that don’t follow these rules set out in the bill.
Schwertner filed SB 1214 in 2023. It passed in the Senate but did not make it out of the House. This session, Chaudhari is hoping his new bill, SB 617 stays atop of mind for lawmakers.
“This is a very important issue because it impacts thousands of people within this one mile,” Chaudhari said. “We have so many residents, so many businesses, you’re transforming lives here.”
