NW Facility to Be Scaled Down, but Neighbors Say Cut Is Not Enough

An organization seeking to build a homeless shelter in Northwest Washington is planning to substantially reduce the number of beds at the proposed facility to try to assuage neighbors opposed to the project.

David Treadwell, director of Central Union Mission, would not specify the size of the decrease, but he said the number of beds could fall from 170 to as low as 100.

"We have listened to the community," Treadwell said.

But community leaders say the reduction is not nearly enough to end their opposition to the project, slated for the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue on a parcel straddling Petworth and Columbia Heights.

Cliff Valenti, who lives a couple of blocks from the site, said a 100-bed shelter would add to problems residents face along Georgia Avenue, including loitering, panhandling and public urination.

"I'm opposed to something that is going to bring down the area," Valenti said. He added that he would prefer a smaller shelter, one that is about 40 beds. "When they're smaller, they're better managed."

Treadwell wants Central Union to move to Georgia Avenue because its current headquarters, at 14th and R streets NW, is antiquated.

Treadwell's remarks about reducing the number of proposed beds came after the District began considering changes last week to the zoning regulations along a section of lower Georgia Avenue.

Planning officials said the review of the zoning regulations began two years ago, long before Central Union bought the land.

When Central Union finalized the purchase this month, mission officials believed that under the zoning regulations they could build the shelter without seeking any variances.

But last week, the D.C. Zoning Commission began reviewing regulations that would require developers of a project larger than 12,000 square feet to face public hearings and obtain a special permit.

Central Union's proposed shelter would be 60,000 square feet.