Bowser Spreads the Wealth opens homeless shelters in each DC ward

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

More like 15 to 20 on a slow bus. Traffic between Mass Ave and Tenleytown has become bad most of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

The sidewalk at the bus stop is about 4' wide. I don't have a dog in the fight as I don't live in Glover Pk/Cathedral Heights, but it's a terrible place for a homeless shelter because of the lack of Metro access.

FFS. Then widen the f'ing sidewalk. The 30 buses take you across town.

Then they'd have to narrow Wisconsin. DDOT already tried that in Glover Park and then abandoned it as an epic fail. The sidewalk abuts buildings on the other side so it can't be widened that way either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

You're really this obtuse? Schools. Job interviews. Doctor or social worker appointments. Visiting friends or family members. Social Security. Shopping. Shall I continue?

Pretty sure the 30 bus runs both south and north. Tenleytown is a quick trip.

Bwahahahaha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

It's a lot easier to be supportive when you're over five blocks away and separated by 4 lanes of a major thoroughfare. I promise you those within a city block will have a much harder time. And frankly, it's not just because it's homeless shelter, but also increased density than that parcel would otherwise allow. This is one way that allows the developer who purchased it build apartments that he can lease back to the city.

Hadn't though of that. Who is the developer and is he among Bowser's crony political supporters?

Who owns the Observatory Circle proposed shelter site? The DC Government or a private developer? If the latter, what are the terms? A proposed build to lease for a fixed term and then the developer gets to renovate to dense market rate housing? There may be more going no on here than meets the eye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

I live on the Observatory Circle side (about three blocks from the proposed site) and our family is in favor of the plan (with some conditions) as our many of our neighbors. We actually already have a homeless shelter in our neigborhood (St. Lukes) where many neighbors volunteer or support in other ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

More like 15 to 20 on a slow bus. Traffic between Mass Ave and Tenleytown has become bad most of the day.

Still seems reasonable. So where are they taking this metro to? The school is right there, great bus service. What are all these metro rides they're going to be taking? Medicaid in DC provides a van to appointments (yes, really). I'm hoping if they've thought about all these homeless centers they will have some mandatory job training/education or placement. A van could also pick all the moms and dads up or is Bowser doing a push in model (these services go to the families). There are plenty of small jobs to be had right on Wisconsin. What is metro needed for? .

[Anonymous]

It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

[Anonymous]

I want to see the comprehensive plan by which these families are moving from dependence to independence/work. If we are going to spend this much, may as well does that much more. These shelters should be a stop on the way to low income housing and work. I want to see the whole pipeline laid out. These families deserve that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

It's a lot easier to be supportive when you're over five blocks away and separated by 4 lanes of a major thoroughfare. I promise you those within a city block will have a much harder time. And frankly, it's not just because it's homeless shelter, but also increased density than that parcel would otherwise allow. This is one way that allows the developer who purchased it build apartments that he can lease back to the city.

Hadn't though of that. Who is the developer and is he among Bowser's crony political supporters?

Who owns the Observatory Circle proposed shelter site? The DC Government or a private developer? If the latter, what are the terms? A proposed build to lease for a fixed term and then the developer gets to renovate to dense market rate housing? There may be more going no on here than meets the eye.

It's a win-win. The real prize is handing the DC General (Reservation 13) site to developers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

The biggest concern is that these are short term which they said they should be coming in and out every 2-3 months, which means 40 families in and out of the neighborhood and in and out of the schools every 2-3 months? It sounds chaotic and for families that already live there and bought homes to be in a community of single family homes, having 40 families moving in and out every 2 months seems disruptive for the community and for the homeless families themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

40 families moving in and out every 2-3 months seems disruptive. Even if they find a job in the neighborhood, will they be able to keep it if they have to move out of the neighborhood in 2 months?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

It's a lot easier to be supportive when you're over five blocks away and separated by 4 lanes of a major thoroughfare. I promise you those within a city block will have a much harder time. And frankly, it's not just because it's homeless shelter, but also increased density than that parcel would otherwise allow. This is one way that allows the developer who purchased it build apartments that he can lease back to the city.

Hadn't though of that. Who is the developer and is he among Bowser's crony political supporters?

Who owns the Observatory Circle proposed shelter site? The DC Government or a private developer? If the latter, what are the terms? A proposed build to lease for a fixed term and then the developer gets to renovate to dense market rate housing? There may be more going no on here than meets the eye.

It's a win-win. The real prize is handing the DC General (Reservation 13) site to developers.

That probably has more to do with the plan than anything else. Probably less a matter of genuine concern for the homeless as it is dealmaking with developers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

The biggest concern is that these are short term which they said they should be coming in and out every 2-3 months, which means 40 families in and out of the neighborhood and in and out of the schools every 2-3 months? It sounds chaotic and for families that already live there and bought homes to be in a community of single family homes, having 40 families moving in and out every 2 months seems disruptive for the community and for the homeless families themselves.

Shelters are meant to be temporary. The goal is to house people permanently in a stable living situation, and the shelter is only meant to provide case managers time to help assess families and help them transition to something more permanent.

RE: schools - the law allows parents to choose the school placement: the school of origin or the neighborhood school. If the kid is thriving in one school, then the parents can opt to keep him there (and transportation must be provided).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

The biggest concern is that these are short term which they said they should be coming in and out every 2-3 months, which means 40 families in and out of the neighborhood and in and out of the schools every 2-3 months? It sounds chaotic and for families that already live there and bought homes to be in a community of single family homes, having 40 families moving in and out every 2 months seems disruptive for the community and for the homeless families themselves.

Shelters are meant to be temporary. The goal is to house people permanently in a stable living situation, and the shelter is only meant to provide case managers time to help assess families and help them transition to something more permanent.

RE: schools - the law allows parents to choose the school placement: the school of origin or the neighborhood school. If the kid is thriving in one school, then the parents can opt to keep him there (and transportation must be provided).

Right but you must admit having 40 families moving in and out of a small neighborhood every 2-3 months will have an impact on the community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to see before and after statistics of the crime, school ratings and property values

The biggest concern is that these are short term which they said they should be coming in and out every 2-3 months, which means 40 families in and out of the neighborhood and in and out of the schools every 2-3 months? It sounds chaotic and for families that already live there and bought homes to be in a community of single family homes, having 40 families moving in and out every 2 months seems disruptive for the community and for the homeless families themselves.

Shelters are meant to be temporary. The goal is to house people permanently in a stable living situation, and the shelter is only meant to provide case managers time to help assess families and help them transition to something more permanent.

RE: schools - the law allows parents to choose the school placement: the school of origin or the neighborhood school. If the kid is thriving in one school, then the parents can opt to keep him there (and transportation must be provided).

Right but you must admit having 40 families moving in and out of a small neighborhood every 2-3 months will have an impact on the community?

You must be joking. There are probably about 5,000 households within half a mile of this location. And you think that somehow 15 families moving in and out of apartments per month is going to be horrendously disruptive???

There may be some good arguments against this shelter on Wisconsin Ave. But this one - and the idea that a few dozen people added to a bus line that already serves thousands daily are red herrings.