Sunday, March 12, 2017

Salt Lake County Homeless Shelter

I hope the Governor vetoes H.B. 441 Housing and Homeless Reform Initiative Amendments unless Mayor McAdams does what he should have done in the first place: Contact all 17 cities and ask them for the location of the "best" site, IF their city is chosen for the men's only homeless shelter.

The 3 proposed locations in West Valley City are some of the worst places one could go. Mayor McAdams didn't even bother to involve West Valley City officials prior to the selection. West Valley City has tried to decrease homeless population along the Jordan River for years, and two of the proposed locations in the city are right there.

We have 17 cities in the County. We should have 17 locations on the short list and not 2 cities. The process shouldn't be NIMBY, but this has been mishandled.

[Update]
Feedback (tell the committee what you think of the process or location):
https://www.homelessfacilitysite.org/public-feedback/

Meetings (find out more and tell the committee what you think of the process or location):
[Update] New Open House Added:
Open House Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 West 3100 South, West Valley City 
Tuesday, March 21 6-8 p.m.

Committee and members:
http://slco.org/homeless-services/collective-impact-steering-committee/

Homeless Resource Center:
https://www.homelessfacilitysite.org/homeless-resource-center/

Local city leaders brace for a homeless shelter they’re powerless to stop
http://www.sltrib.com/home/5031920-155/local-city-leaders-brace-for-a?fullpage=1

 New shelter to be in West Valley or South Salt Lake —
cities already bearing plenty of state burdens, residents say

http://www.sltrib.com/news/5040923-155/new-shelter-to-be-in-west

Perhaps No City wants the shelter, but if all cities in the county were asked where one could go in their city, at least it wouldn't be located in the worst place it could go. 

In the legislative standing committee meeting, Mayor McAdams said he would put forward 5 locations for public comment but that those locations were not the only options and other locations would be considered and perhaps selected.

Legislative hearings/debates/public meetings:

House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Standing Committee  March 6, 2017
http://utahlegislature.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=21529&meta_id=692530

House Floor Debate, March 6, 2017
http://utahlegislature.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=21553&meta_id=692394

Senate Floor Debate, March 8, 2017
http://utahlegislature.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=21566&meta_id=694427

Senate Floor Debate, March 8, 2017 (2)
http://utahlegislature.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=21566&meta_id=694464


Other audio and video is at: 
http://le.utah.gov/~2017/bills/static/HB0441.html

Update:

We need to come up with the best sites, as it is clear the Mayor's committee didn't. It can't be Not In Our Backyard, it needs to be why a site is not a good location or why it doesn't meet their own criteria and we need to come up with a better choice. It is clear anywhere in the County (except SLC) is still on the table for the 3rd location shelter, if a better location is found.

Three of the sites are near the Jordan River, which the county and city have tried to make a regional asset and move the homeless population away from that.

The 2411 Winston St. Location is near a trax location, but is almost one mile to the Rancho Markets grocery store. The site is also too close to the Jordan River and will send foot traffic though the oldest section of Chesterfield neighborhood which is not able to support that kind of burden.

The 2249 Winston Street location is a little further from the same trax location, further to the Rancho Markets grocery store, just as close to Jordan River, and is apt to put foot traffic though the newest section of Chesterfield neighborhood.

The 1820 Printers Row, location is almost a mile from a trax station to the south. That trax location is a little closer than the trax station to the east on Winston St. Foot traffic between the trax station south of Printers Row, on Redwood Road takes foot traffic past Rancho Markets and also Redwood Elementary School

Am I missing a closer Grocery Store to these locations? I am familiar with the Rancho Markets location on 2470 S Redwood Road at the Latino Mall as I did the drawings for the mall and addition for the store.

3091 Main Street is closer to the Millcreek Station trax than the Printers Row location is to one, and the Salt Lake China Town grocery Store is not too far from the path between them. Is there a closer grocery store location? (yes, I did the drawings for the gate, the east building, gift store and restaurant for this project).

1144 West 3300 South is right next to the Jordan River, in the location West Valley has been working to remove the tents, waste and trash near the city's cultural center. It might as well be in West Valley City as well. It appears to be the worst location of the 5. It is the furthest from a grocery store, as far as I know, the closest one is the Kim Long Market on Redwood and 3500 S.

It appears 3 of the 5 are too close to the Jordan River and Printers Row location is too close to Redwood Elementary. That leaves 3091 S. Main Street out of the 5. I hope they have some better locations show up this week.