Close to 30 North Delridge residents packed into the Delridge Branch library community room on July 11 to discuss neighborhood concerns, hopes, upcoming events and an opportunity for graphic artists with a flair for pro-bono work to develop a logo for the council.
The issue of DESC’s (Downtown Emergency Service Center) plans to build a homeless housing project across the street from the library was the focus of the evening.
Delridge area residents first got word of DESC’s plan to build a 75-unit Delridge Supportive Housing Project for homeless high-risk individuals with severe addiction and/or mental health issues at a meeting on June 27. EDIT: Per a comment from a North Delridge resident, they first heard about the project "at the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting on June 13, and from there the word went out about the meeting which was hosted 2 weeks later on June 27 by DESC at Delridge Library."
The plan, presented by DESC’s Executive Director Bill Hobson, was met with community trepidation and NDNC Chair Karrie Kohlhaas devoted a portion of their July 11 meeting to generate a list of facts known about, and concerns over the project.
For orientation’s sake, DESC has been in operation in Seattle for over 30 years “to provide emergency shelter and survival services for men and women living in a state of chronic homelessness … Today, DESC is a recognized national leader in implementing innovative cost effective strategies that end homelessness,” according to their website.
The Delridge Supportive Housing Project, slated for an “optimistic” opening in fall of 2013 if funding is secured and DESC gets through design review and permitting, is described by DESC as affordable housing for Seattle’s chronically homeless population (mostly from downtown). A DESC employee attended the meeting and described the strategy as providing those with sever mental health issues or addictions with stability through housing, then providing them with the tools to get help for their problems once the all-encompassing issue of survival is taken care of.
While there are still several steps to go before the project is a reality, DESC director Hobson was re-quoted from the June 27 meeting as saying, “This is happening whether you like it or not.”
DESC already has eight up-and-running supportive housing projects in the Seattle area with a ninth being built in North Seattle over the summer.
The facts
What is known about the Delridge supportive housing plan (beyond what has been mentioned above) is that it will be a four-story, 75 unit complex with a first floor common space for residents (meeting room, dining, staff offices) and an outside garden and courtyard, according to a DESC fact sheet. There will be a 24-hour, seven days a week staff and DESC “will provide contact information for neighbors” and “will do regular capital needs analyses and make annual deposits … to ensure (the) building remains in good repair.” Residents will be men and women who are required to sign and abide by a lease and pay rent. The proposed location is 5434-5444 Delridge Way S.W., taking up three lots.
The concerns
What remains unclear for Delridge neighbors is the economic, public safety and social cost of the project.
NDNC gave the floor to citizens to voice their concerns and an expansive list (see the photo above) was compiled on a dry erase board. Those concerns included:
-Sex offenders. It was reported at the meeting that Hobson said registered sex offenders would not be allowed. Beyond sex offenders, a residing concern that residents with mental health and addiction problems pose a safety risk to their neighbors.
-Proximity to nearby preschools and schools
-Density concern of 75 units changing the scale and character of the Delridge neighborhood. Additionally, it was reported that the North Delridge area is coded for 77 possible low-income units and DESC’s 75 units will essentially wipe that allotment out, hampering future development of mixed-use buildings with low-income housing.
-DESC’s housing will brand Delridge as a decidedly low-income neighborhood that could turn future housing and business developers away from the area.
-A lack of services. Dobson reportedly told attendees at the June meeting that it is important for their residents to have access to healthy food options found at supermarkets. In North Delridge there is no grocery store near by, only convenience stores that sell unhealthy food and cheap alcohol.
-Delridge’s social services are already at or near capacity and will have trouble servicing another 75 residents with various needs.
-Concern that DESC residents will not feel invested in improving the community.
-No criminal background checks of residents (sex offender registry checks are separate).
-With possible Metro transit lines being shut down public transportation from North Delridge may suffer.
-How will DESC educate the multilingual North Delridge neighborhood on their plans?
-Will property values rise or fall as a result of DESC’s project?
-Drug dealers are a common site along Delridge Way S.W. Is this the best spot to put people trying to overcome their addictions?
-There is no hospital nearby for “high-risk” residents who have had rough lives and may have medical emergencies.
-How can people learn more about the project from DESC and how can they constructively voice their opposition?
It was unanimously agreed that DESC should hold another meeting to address these concerns, this time in a larger venue since the June meeting reached capacity quickly and many people were turned away.
DESC has encouraged Delridge citizens to visit their other supportive housing sites to speak with staff and neighbors in order to get a feel for how it has affected their community. “Help us make this thing work,” he said. On that note, a NDNC member said the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has offered Delridge residents an opportunity to tour other DESC facilities. To get involved in the tour, contact the NDNC.
More notes from the meeting
While the DESC project ate up most of the meeting, Kohlhaas set aside time to discuss other matters as well.
A request was put out for residents to diligently call 911 when they see crime happening, specifically drug dealing along Delridge Way S.W. SPD Officer Jonathan Kiehn attended the meeting and said unless a crime is reported, “it does not exist.” Even if the criminals are not caught, Kiehn said 911 calls help the police establish patterns and locations of crime for future deterrence.
North Delridge is badly in need of an east-to-west bus line that connects residents to grocery stores and additional services in the Junction area.
Delridge Way S.W. needs more crosswalks. Crossing the road is a dangerous proposition along the corridor where people love to drive fast.
Upcoming events in North Delridge
On July 23 there will be a “more fun that it sounds” Adopt-a-Street event starting at 10 a.m. at the Delridge Community Center. The goal is to pick up trash along Delridge Way S.W.
September 17 marks the official opening of the Delridge skatepark and Delridge Day. The council applied for a Small Sparks grant through the City but it was denied (only because Delridge Day has been awarded a grant in the past), so they are looking for donations, volunteers and vendors interested in setting up booth for the community event. Contact the council for more information.
The North Delridge Neighborhood Council is looking to get branded. If there are any aspiring or established graphic artists out there that would like to donate their skills to create a logo for the council and boost their portfolio, now is the time according to NDNC Treasurer Patrick Baer.
The deadline for entries is August 5 and submissions should be mailed to NDNClogo[at]gmail.com. Baer laid out some basic rules including a black and white logo (or color as long as it can be reproduced in black and white) and it should be scalable so it looks as good on letterhead as it does on a t-shirt or banner. The winner receives an “I (heart) Delridge” t-shirt and $50 in gift certificates to local businesses.
They will vote on the logo at the next council meeting, August 8 at the Dragonfly Pavilion (28th and Dakota). Fore more information, contact the council.
