Council members on the Houston City Council Quality of Life Committee heard Tuesday from the director of Housing and Community Development about a proposed ordinance that would authorize the city to purchase a two‑building property at 419 Emancipation for $16,000,000 and convert it into a 24‑hour triage “superhub” for people experiencing homelessness.

The proposal, presented by Housing Director Mike Nichols, would finance the purchase through Fund 18‑50 (reimbursement of equipment and projects fund) and repay that temporary loan over 10 years using Tax Increment Reinvestment (TIR) or other local funding as they become available. Nichols said the purchase would be brought to full City Council for a vote on October 15, subject to a Phase 2 environmental site assessment and other due diligence completed in a 120‑day feasibility period.

Nichols said the city envisions the site as a front door for the city’s homeless response system with an ability to provide overnight emergency beds (he described an aspirational target of 150–225 beds), on‑site health and psychiatric services, substance‑use programming and direct connections to permanent housing. “The purpose of the Superhub will be where safety meets connection to lasting housing solutions,” Nichols said. He described the facility as low‑barrier, “no program requirements” intake for people with complicating factors such as pets or partners, and as a place that accepts walk‑ups and law enforcement or outreach drop‑offs.

The property is two buildings totaling roughly 54,276 square feet; Building 1 (about 38,751 sq ft) contains a commercial kitchen, laundry, medical offices and sleeping rooms (an appraisal referenced 75 rooms), and Building 2 (about 15,500 sq ft) has classrooms and service space. The seller’s recent renovations (2019 and 2023) total about $3,000,000, and the site was most recently used by a nonprofit housing migrant children until federal funding ended in August 2025. Nichols said a Phase 1 environmental site assessment was complete and a Phase 2 assessment was underway.

Nichols and Chief Satterwhite said the city would not operate the facility directly; instead the city would lease the property to one or more nonprofit operators with experience serving people with severe behavioral health and substance‑use needs. Operations budgets presented to the committee ranged from $10 million to $14 million a year; Nichols said Year 1–2 operations funding could come from the city’s Disaster ’24 allocation (the administration estimates roughly $37 million of the disaster funds are available for operations), but long‑term operations would require a mix of philanthropy, county/state funding, federal reimbursements and local sources. Nichols said the city has committed $33 million to a broader housing plan and Harris County recently committed $8 million, and he urged continued partnership across jurisdictions and philanthropic donors.

Committee members pressed staff on financing details (how the 18‑50 fund would be repaid, whether federal reimbursements are reimbursement‑based, and the interplay with TIR funds). Nichols told the committee the plan is to use Fund 18‑50 as a short‑term borrower and repay it over 10 years with TIR or other local revenue streams once available. He also said HUD and other federal funding are typically reimbursement‑based and that the city expects to draw down those funds after obligations are incurred and approved.

Several council members and members of the public raised questions about neighborhood impacts, security and the timing of purchase. Staff described an operational plan with layered on‑site security, cameras and a combination of trained life‑safety officers with coordinated law‑enforcement support for the surrounding area; Chief Satterwhite said numbers and deployment remain under development to avoid publicizing operational details. Residents who live near the site told the committee they are concerned about increased panhandling, pedestrian safety around the stadium and the site’s proximity to event traffic.

Appraisal and pricing questions were discussed: Nichols said the city obtained two appraisals during negotiations (one appraised about $10,000,000, a second about $20,000,010 — the proposed purchase price is roughly midway between those appraisals). Nichols told the committee that another federal entity had expressed interest during negotiations, which affected the market for the property.

Nichols outlined a timeline that anticipates a City Council vote on October 15 to authorize purchase (pending environmental clearance), selection of an operator by November, and initial discussions about opening the facility in late 2024 into 2026 depending on HUD approvals and final funding. He said the purchase decision before council is limited to authority to buy the property contingent on environmental and feasibility findings.

Public commenters and council members urged clarity on long‑term funding, tighter community outreach and more details on security and how the superhub will connect directly to the permanent housing exits Nichols said are essential to success.

The committee did not record a formal vote on the purchase at the meeting; staff said the item will be presented to full council on October 15 for formal action.

Ending — The committee asked staff to return with more detailed budget, security and funding‑source plans before council consideration; staff reiterated the purchase is conditional on environmental review and further due diligence and that additional community briefings and operator selection steps remain.