Overview
- The council item to purchase 419 Emancipation Ave. was pulled from this week’s agenda and is slated to return next Wednesday, according to city leaders.
- Mayor John Whitmire says he expects approval and a first-quarter 2026 opening, with HPD and the Sheriff’s Office increasing presence around the site.
- The city plans to pay $16 million for the property—more than $9 million above its HCAD appraisal—through a departmental loan with potential repayment from TIRZ revenues and philanthropy.
- Designed to serve 150 to 225 single adults, the facility would welcome walk-ups and connect clients to psychiatric care, substance-use treatment, healthcare, and rapid rehousing.
- Annual operating costs are estimated at $10 million to $14 million, with initial expenses covered by one-time federal disaster funds, as residents near the site continue to object over notice and safety.