More details emerge on new Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter
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| A conceptual sketch of the new shelter. |
Fairfax
County staff shared more details on the new Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter at a meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee Feb. 28.
The
21,000-square-foot, three-story building, with a full cellar, will be on a half-acre
site on Seminary Road, close to the intersection with Columbia Pike and
Leesburg Pike.
21,000-square-foot, three-story building, with a full cellar, will be on a half-acre
site on Seminary Road, close to the intersection with Columbia Pike and
Leesburg Pike.
An
old brick building on the site has already been taken down, and the site has
been graded. The county plans to award construction contracts next fall.
Construction would happen in spring 2018 through summer 2019, and the building
would be ready for occupancy in fall 2019.
The
new $12 million shelter will replace the existing Bailey’s Crossroads shelter
on Moncure Avenue and will be less than a quarter of a mile away. It will have a similar footprint as the old one-story shelter,
but will have a much greater capacity. “It will fulfill our needs for the next
25 years,” said project coordinator Joan Beacham.
new $12 million shelter will replace the existing Bailey’s Crossroads shelter
on Moncure Avenue and will be less than a quarter of a mile away. It will have a similar footprint as the old one-story shelter,
but will have a much greater capacity. “It will fulfill our needs for the next
25 years,” said project coordinator Joan Beacham.
The
first floor and cellar level will have 52 emergency beds, with six beds per
room. There will be five rooms for men and three for women. At the current
first floor and cellar level will have 52 emergency beds, with six beds per
room. There will be five rooms for men and three for women. At the current
The
two top floors will have 18 supportive housing units, called “personal living
quarters,” for people transitioning out of homelessness but not yet ready for
independent living. Those units would be 250-square-foot, single-occupancy
efficiency apartments with bathrooms and kitchenettes.
two top floors will have 18 supportive housing units, called “personal living
quarters,” for people transitioning out of homelessness but not yet ready for
independent living. Those units would be 250-square-foot, single-occupancy
efficiency apartments with bathrooms and kitchenettes.
The
shelter will also have four “medical beds” for medically fragile people who
need an IV or health monitoring.
shelter will also have four “medical beds” for medically fragile people who
need an IV or health monitoring.
The building will have a dining room, laundry facilities, and space for administration
and activities, such as housing, job, and financial counseling and AA meetings. The site will
also include 24 parking spaces and a courtyard.
and activities, such as housing, job, and financial counseling and AA meetings. The site will
also include 24 parking spaces and a courtyard.
There will be 15 staff members during the day – including administrators,
case managers, and a cook – plus volunteers and two to four staff on the night
shift.
case managers, and a cook – plus volunteers and two to four staff on the night
shift.
In
a departure from previous policy, clients are allowed to stay inside the
shelter during the day. There is a 9 p.m. curfew on weekdays, and 10 p.m. on weekends.
Homeless people not staying at the shelter can come for drop-in services during
certain times on weekdays.
a departure from previous policy, clients are allowed to stay inside the
shelter during the day. There is a 9 p.m. curfew on weekdays, and 10 p.m. on weekends.
Homeless people not staying at the shelter can come for drop-in services during
certain times on weekdays.
Security
measures will include cameras, alarms, an electronic lock on the front door
requiring people to be buzzed in, and staff assigned to patrol the area every
30 minutes.
measures will include cameras, alarms, an electronic lock on the front door
requiring people to be buzzed in, and staff assigned to patrol the area every
30 minutes.
In
addition, a community advisory committee will be created to promote
communications among neighboring residents, businesses, and the shelter.
addition, a community advisory committee will be created to promote
communications among neighboring residents, businesses, and the shelter.
Several
people who live near the both the existing shelter and the new one expressed
some concerns at the MDLUC meeting about the shelter having a negative impact
on the community.
people who live near the both the existing shelter and the new one expressed
some concerns at the MDLUC meeting about the shelter having a negative impact
on the community.
It’s
not just the shelter residents who are causing problems; it’s the overflow, “the people who can’t get
into the shelter that you don’t have any control over,” Dave Sheppard, a
resident of Lacy Boulevard, told the county officials. “They are wandering
around our neighborhood camping out.”
not just the shelter residents who are causing problems; it’s the overflow, “the people who can’t get
into the shelter that you don’t have any control over,” Dave Sheppard, a
resident of Lacy Boulevard, told the county officials. “They are wandering
around our neighborhood camping out.”
Margaret
Coleman, a resident of Summers Lane, said she supports efforts to help the homeless but said there are problems with
crime and “people sleeping at bus stops. The police are there every day.”
Coleman, a resident of Summers Lane, said she supports efforts to help the homeless but said there are problems with
crime and “people sleeping at bus stops. The police are there every day.”
She
said the community needs to be informed and volunteered to serve on the
community advisory council.
said the community needs to be informed and volunteered to serve on the
community advisory council.
“We
welcome your voice at the table,” said Dean Klein, director of the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. He urged
people interested in joining the council to contact Mason Supervisor Penny
Gross, who will be in charge of setting it up.
welcome your voice at the table,” said Dean Klein, director of the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. He urged
people interested in joining the council to contact Mason Supervisor Penny
Gross, who will be in charge of setting it up.
“I
would not minimize the daily challenge of people living near the shelter,” Klein
said. The new shelter will replace an obsolete, 30-year-old facility. Being
able to provide temporary housing is “a huge step forward” in providing a
longer-term solution for a hard-to-serve population.”
would not minimize the daily challenge of people living near the shelter,” Klein
said. The new shelter will replace an obsolete, 30-year-old facility. Being
able to provide temporary housing is “a huge step forward” in providing a
longer-term solution for a hard-to-serve population.”
Tom
Barnett, of the Office to End and Prevent Homelessness, presented
some statistics on the residents of the current Bailey’s shelter: One-third
are 51 or older, 8
percent are military veterans, 11
percent survivors of domestic violence, and many have chronic health problems.
Staff
will give another presentation on the new shelter at the March 21 meeting of
the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation. The Mason
District Land Use Committee will consider whether or not to endorse the project on
May 23. After that, there will be public hearings before the Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors.
Barnett, of the Office to End and Prevent Homelessness, presented
some statistics on the residents of the current Bailey’s shelter: One-third
are 51 or older, 8
percent are military veterans, 11
percent survivors of domestic violence, and many have chronic health problems.
Staff
will give another presentation on the new shelter at the March 21 meeting of
the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation. The Mason
District Land Use Committee will consider whether or not to endorse the project on
May 23. After that, there will be public hearings before the Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors.
The
BoS has to approve a special exception for the project because it would have a
higher floor-area ratio (FAR), meaning higher density, than currently allowed in the county’s
Comprehensive Plan.
BoS has to approve a special exception for the project because it would have a
higher floor-area ratio (FAR), meaning higher density, than currently allowed in the county’s
Comprehensive Plan.
I’m sure other districts and communities are just clamoring for shiny new homeless shelters! We get the best development, don't we folks?
Yes, in fact. http://www.carpentersshelter.org/carpenters-shelter-redevelopment/
https://www.arlnow.com/2015/09/25/photos-new-homeless-shelter-opens-next-week/
Another Mason District homeless shelter in Seven Corners is being expanded:
…demolition of the existing and replacement with a new facility for the Patrick Henry Shelter."
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/construction/designadvert.htm
Very attractive. It's a significantly better looking building than the old Vet building that previously occupied the site, and certainly much more attractive than the eyesores that take up the Columbia Pike side of Bailey's Crossroads. Especially, the defunct Safari Lounge.
It also, quite obviously, will be a more functional building and be able to house more services than the current Mason District homeless shelter.
I'm glad Landmark avoided these people. Close call. Phew.
this is much nicer for the homeless of the area than what they currently have. anyone complaining about not wanting this near them is cruel (i live 2 blocks from it and think its nice)
so, big question here, who is paying for this? taxpayers?
Funds for this were in a bond passed by voters in November.
Current shelter is older than thirty years.
It looks nice, ill move in.
According to the picture, it seems that the fence is too low….
Pickett Street in Alexandria is being transformed from warehouses to luxury apartments. And what do we get, a homeless high-rise, MS 13 murders, businesses shuttering their doors and a social service palace. Is their lead in Mason's water?
You also got several new businesses moving to the area (thai, mexican, the lebanese restaurant), lots of good news stories regarding volunteering and community outreach and the arts (and that's just in the past month). But by all means everything here is terrible and we live in Compton.
LOL! Thank you for putting/keeping things in perspective.