As reported in the DCist, the DC Council has decided the best use of City property on a major retail redevelopment corridor is a homeless shelter. The new location for the Ward 5 homeless shelter will be at 1700 RIA NE (the police station). While City-owned property along retail corridors are the best opportunity for the City to help spur economic growth (especially in this case, with Rhode Island Ave NE being a DC Main Street), they have decided to forgo this opportunity in this case. Perhaps they could partner with a developer to redevelop the area to include the shelter but also bring in ground floor retail in addition.

“While the location is not perfect, I am confident that given our continued investment in the neighborhood and the Rhode Island Avenue corridor, it will be a welcoming home for our homeless families,” Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie said on the dais.

Let’s hope McDuffie keeps his word on “continued investment” for RIA NE. Show us, McDuffie, don’t just say it.