We, residents of ANC 5B, support the goal of the city of Washington, DC to provide housing for the homeless and, more specifically, of placing 50 homeless families in Ward 5. However, we oppose the current shelter design plans for 1700 Rhode Island Avenue NE and call on ANC 5B to only support an appropriately sized homeless shelter at 1700 Rhode Island Avenue NE, and to oppose the shelter as currently planned.
It is too tall, it is poorly designed for the site, and is incongruous with the neighborhood. The proposed shelter violates the city's zoning code for that site in several ways, including but not limited to:
- height and floor area ratio
- lot occupancy
- lack of required green space
- insufficient parking
- lack of loading facility
- incongruousness with the neighborhood
To get around these, the city is asking for special exceptions to the zoning code.
Therefore, we call on the ANC to withhold support for the current plan for a shelter at 1700 Rhode Island Ave NE, with its poor design and its need for variances from existing zoning law.
Updates
January 22, 2017
I have been hearing from so many of you who are worried about how this design fits into our streets. It is truly humbling to see such a dedicated group coming together because you care about the future of our neighborhood.
42 Comments
Both the design and process for this homeless shelter are flawed and unacceptable. The site is CLEARLY too small to fit the building as currently proposed and it always has been. There were multiple other sites that would had the room to accommodate 50 families. This was not one of them! Either change the design to meet existing zoning laws or revisit the selection of the site altogether.
I do not support this design, lack of green space and complete lack of parking for this site. I support a shelter for families that does not provide additional services to non shelter occupants during the day, however this is not an appropriate/legal design for this site.
This structure is totally incongruous with the other properties/homes and businesses in the neighborhood and the proposal for this site itself does not take other issues into consideration such as the open air drug market less than 3 blocks away that operates nearly 18 hours a day. Not a good mix for those already struggling with a myriad of problems, nor for their children.
No six story buildings currently exist on Rhode Island Avenue, NE from the Rhode Island metro to Eastern Avenue, NE and the fewer than a half-dozen four and five story buildings along that stretch are all brick.
We are not opposed to the shelter being built a couple of blocks away from our house, but we ARE opposed to how thoughtless the planning is. How ridiculous for families to not have much-needed outdoor space. And let's not pretend that politics aren't involved. I wonder how residents in upper northwest would feel if a similar structure was built their neighborhood.
I oppose the current plan for the 1700 Rhode Island Ave NE shelter
I oppose the current propsal
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We, residents of ANC 5B, support the goal of the city of Washington, DC to provide housing for the homeless and, more specifically, of placing 50 homeless families in Ward 5. However, we oppose the current shelter design plans for 1700 Rhode Island Avenue NE and call on ANC 5B to only support an appropriately sized homeless shelter at 1700 Rhode Island Avenue NE, and to oppose the shelter as currently planned.
It is too tall, it is poorly designed for the site, and is incongruous with the neighborhood. The proposed shelter violates the city's zoning code for that site in several ways, including but not limited to:
- height and floor area ratio
- lot occupancy
- lack of required green space
- insufficient parking
- lack of loading facility
- incongruousness with the neighborhood
To get around these, the city is asking for special exceptions to the zoning code.
Therefore, we call on the ANC to withhold support for the current plan for a shelter at 1700 Rhode Island Ave NE, with its poor design and its need for variances from existing zoning law.
Updates
January 22, 2017
I have been hearing from so many of you who are worried about how this design fits into our streets. It is truly humbling to see such a dedicated group coming together because you care about the future of our neighborhood.
42 Comments
Let's help homeless families by the city following its own rules so there is not neighborhood opposition. Without opposition, an appropriate shelter can be built and homeless families can get out of the current shelter at DC General.
Both the design and process for this homeless shelter are flawed and unacceptable. The site is CLEARLY too small to fit the building as currently proposed and it always has been. There were multiple other sites that would had the room to accommodate 50 families. This was not one of them! Either change the design to meet existing zoning laws or revisit the selection of the site altogether.
I do not support this design, lack of green space and complete lack of parking for this site. I support a shelter for families that does not provide additional services to non shelter occupants during the day, however this is not an appropriate/legal design for this site.
This structure is totally incongruous with the other properties/homes and businesses in the neighborhood and the proposal for this site itself does not take other issues into consideration such as the open air drug market less than 3 blocks away that operates nearly 18 hours a day. Not a good mix for those already struggling with a myriad of problems, nor for their children.
No six story buildings currently exist on Rhode Island Avenue, NE from the Rhode Island metro to Eastern Avenue, NE and the fewer than a half-dozen four and five story buildings along that stretch are all brick.
We are not opposed to the shelter being built a couple of blocks away from our house, but we ARE opposed to how thoughtless the planning is. How ridiculous for families to not have much-needed outdoor space. And let's not pretend that politics aren't involved. I wonder how residents in upper northwest would feel if a similar structure was built their neighborhood.
I oppose the current plan for the 1700 Rhode Island Ave NE shelter
I oppose the current propsal
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Let's help homeless families by the city following its own rules so there is not neighborhood opposition. Without opposition, an appropriate shelter can be built and homeless families can get out of the current shelter at DC General.