MCALLEN – McAllen commissioners approved the purchase of a new downtown transit administration building Tuesday.

The federal government will be assisting with the purchase.

The Federal Transit Administration has agreed to pay for 80% of the total purchase; the city of McAllen will pay for 20% of the cost.

The new building will serve as offices for McAllen Metro.

The facility will be located on the 100 block of South 15^th Street and is approximately 30,000 square feet. 

For the meantime, the city will allow Catholic Charities to temporarily use the facility as its respite center.

The non-profit organization will use the facility until its new permanent building is complete.