Shelter hearing

[from Terra W.]

Dear residents of Columbia Heights, Petworth, Park View and Pleasant Plains:

On Tuesday 2/19/08 at 9:30am, Central Union Mission will request a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA - 441 4th Street, NW) to build a large shelter (approximately 170 beds) in the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue. Several community leaders will speak at the hearing but the meeting will not be open to public testimony. However, it is crucially important that you 1) attend the meeting and 2) write a letter in opposition to the special exception. Our goal is 50 letters. We cannot stress enough that even though you cannot speak at the hearing, your presence is critically important to demonstrate community solidarity. Please take the day off work or make arrangements to go in late.

At a minimum, please write a letter saying “I live at ____ and I oppose the special exception for Central Union Mission, case #17717.” If you have more to say, also consider writing about the specific criteria that BZA will consider for granting or denying the Special Exception:

“Adverse impact” a homeless shelter of the proposed size will have on the neighborhood.

“Detriment to safety, convenience and/or general welfare” of people residing or working in the vicinity.

Vehicular and pedestrian traffic, ingress and egress problems the shelter will create for Newton Street and Georgia Avenue.

The proposed shelter will not “substantially advance” the purposes of the overlay nor the Georgia Avenue–Petworth Corridor Plan, which include: Retention and establishment of a variety of quality neighborhood-serving retail, entertainment and personal service establishments; Encouragement of additional residential uses (including affordable housing) and improved commercial uses; Eliminate blight; Maintain and enhance neighborhood character

Add your own experiences and stories about the neighborhood to support your argument and personalize your letter. We are encouraging people to appeal to the Board’s emotions. Send or drop off your signed letter at 607 Lamont St. NW Washington, DC 20010 ASAP. We will compile the letters and send them in one package to BZA. We will also make a map showing where all of the letters came from, demonstrating the overwhelming opposition to the special exception that the shelter needs to move here.

Please pass this along and encourage your neighbors to write letters as well. If you prefer to write in Spanish or another language also feel free!

Thank you, your fellow neighbors.

Comments

[TerraW]

You can email a PDF of your letter to [email protected]

[oliveskinnednica]

Sorry Terra - just saw the address at the bottom of the letter. Is there an email address we can send letters to if we can't get it to Lamont?

[oliveskinnednica]

How about a mailing address or better yet an email address???