Williamson County Attorney Dee Hobbs is overseeing a lawsuit filed on Friday seeking to prevent the City of Austin from using the former Candlewood Suites hotel on Pecan Park Boulevard in Williamson County to house homeless individuals, which the city has since renamed Pecan Gardens. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and a temporary and permanent injunction to stop the creation of homeless housing at the location. The suit makes the argument that the city is in violation of restrictions for the intended use of that property.
The Williamson County Commissioners Court has been vocal in its opposition of Austin’s plans, calling them “misguided.” The county has engaged legal counsel to advise the Commissioners Court on how best to assist the County Attorney’s Office and local citizens with opposing the City’s plans. In addition, the Commissioners Court has identified and funded a special prosecutor to assist the County Attorney’s Office in pursuing this lawsuit.
When the City of Austin spent $9.6 million on the Candlewood Suites hotel in August of 2021, it was over the objections of the adjacent residents and the entirety of the Commissioners Court.
“The City of Austin continues to show complete and utter disregard for the law, its neighbors, its citizens and community leaders as it barrels recklessly ahead with its plans for the permanent housing of the homeless at this location in Williamson County. The actions by the City of Austin have left no other options than to pursue legal action,” said Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell. “Taking this action is necessary in order to protect Williamson County’s tax-paying, law-abiding citizens to whom the City of Austin has turned a deaf ear to and trampled on.”
