Mayor Bowser has proposed a new homeless shelter near Woodridge/Langdon in response to DC General closing and it seems that everyone from local residents to Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie are not happy about the proposed location. McDuffie’s office released this statement prior to a community meeting on the proposal:

While I wholeheartedly support, the decision to close DC General, I am opposed to the proposed location of the Ward 5 shelter.

The location that the Mayor’s office is proposing is 2266 25th St NE which is owned by Douglas Development who would lease the space to the City for $2m per year. Directly in the middle of the neighborhood. Residents were especially not happy. Here are some of the concerns expressed according to local blogs:

The reasons why that address on 25th NE is not a good fit are many — there are three other homeless shelters within 3 blocks of that spot already, it’s a block from a strip club and numerous night clubs, it’s surrounded by warehouses, there are no grocery stores or other amenities, etc.

My ANC commissioner and the president of my Civic association feel that ward 5 already as the lions share of homeless shelters and that adding another on in the word is concentrating this type of use and could further disincentivize much needed family oriented neighborhood shops and amenities.