by Nena Perry-Brown



A rendering of the proposed Ward 3 shelter A rendering of the proposed Ward 3 shelter

Despite the vehement opposition of community residents, the District’s Department of General Services is moving forward with a zoning application to construct a homeless shelter on the site of a police station in Ward 3.

The city would like to utilize a portion of the land where the 2nd District Police headquarters is located, at 3320 Idaho Avenue NW (map), to build a six-story, 50-unit emergency family shelter.

According to documents filed Tuesday with the Board of Zoning Adjustment, the shelter will be separated from the rest of the site by a wooden fence and will contain 3-4 bed units, as well as administrative offices and various amenities, including indoor and outdoor play areas.

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The plan to deliver a homeless shelter to the typically tony Ward 3 is part of Mayor Bowser’s endeavor to close the massive and woefully inadequate shelter at the former DC General hospital and replace it with seven smaller and more specialized shelters in each ward.

In response to the selection of the site, local resident group “Neighbors for Responsive Government” filed a suit in DC Superior Court last summer against the mayor and the DC Council alleging that the community has not been given sufficient opportunities to offer their recommendations or input.

Where this particular site is concerned, residents have stated anxiety as to whether having a shelter on the premises will hinder police officers’ ability to perform their duties, among other concerns.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the units would have 3-4 bedrooms; they will have 3-4 beds.

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This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/zoning_application_filed_for_emergency_shelter_in_ward_3/12014