GREENSBORO, N.C. — The City of Greensboro took another step trying to sort out what to do with a motel meant to serve the homeless.
Greensboro City Council agreed tonight to buy the Regency Inn on North O-Henry.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman learned what's next in the project that's stalled out for years.
The vote passed seven to one Tuesday night but what does that actually mean? Basically, the council voted to repurchase Regency Inn.
It's the latest chapter in a years' long venture to house the homeless.
The future of the old Regency Inn has been up in the air for a while, issues with developers have been the latest hurdle.
"There's no questions that this was an extremely, poorly run project from the get-go. This is the worst project that I have ever seen the city run," District 3 Greensboro City Council Member, Zack Matheny said.
Back in 2021, the city teamed up with a nonprofit giving it a forgivable loan of $3 million dollars to buy and redevelop the site.
Earlier this year, the city cut ties with another non-profit after they couldn't agree on a path forward.
Tuesday night's vote was to buy the property back for over $210,000 dollars.
"I look forward to getting this one over the fence line and actually seen those buildings gone and something positive happening on this location," Matheny said.
Community member Phillip Marsh wants accountability.
"There are no easy answers with this. We do need to get that asset back and get that moving, as Mr. Matheny said again, we do need to put people in but again like, that's just ridiculous. I mean we're talking real money here, I mean like we just have to have accountability," Greensboro Resident Marsh said.
When it came time to vote, only Greensboro's Mayor Nancy Vaughan was against the idea, saying it would be like rewarding bad behavior.
"It is regretful that we are now paying additional money to get a property back and worse shape then it was when we bought it. I have a real problem with that," Mayor Vaughan said.
Several council members, such as Sharon Hightower, have been vocal about pushing this project forward.
"This property should have already been developed, housing is a need, homeless housing is a need, housing period, is just a need," District 1 Greensboro City Council Member, Hightower said.
A new development plan for the site is expected later this year.