Questions/Comments/Responses from Community Meetings

• Can the entry be moved to another location?

• County Code and current/planned uses of the building limit where the Center entrance can go. The only two options for entry location were about 20 feet apart.
• Entrance placement (about 30 feet from Troy St.) would create the best flow for clients as they enter vestibule, are admitted to go upstairs and enter the Center, register/sign in, and use Center services.

• What will weekend/holiday staffing levels be?

• The Center would have enough staff and trained volunteers to maintain a 20:1 ratio on weekends, holidays and overnight.
• During weekdays, a full complement of Center operations staff, including administrative and client services staff, would be on site.

• What is the County doing to make people feel safe? What security measures will be in place or are being considered?

• County Manager will develop and implement an operations and security plan for the Center.
• The Center’s expected operator (A-SPAN) has experience and an outstanding track record in working with homeless persons.
• During weekdays, a full complement of A-SPAN staff, including administrative and client services staff, would be on site.
• Clients would no longer need to wait outside for the shelter to open and would be encouraged to not linger outside the Center.
• A video monitoring system is being considered with exterior cameras to cover the service alley and along 14th and Troy Streets; monitoring stations would be located in two areas within the Center.
• Staff would monitor area outside of Center and a participant behavior contract would discourage nuisance behaviors.
• Under consideration is a security guard to be on site during key times for an initial period of operation.
• The Arlington Police Department’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) team would conduct a safety assessment of the Center.
• Lighting would be upgraded to meet urban design criteria.

• What is the protocol for police response?

• Dispatcher would assign call to officer(s) with responsibility for the incident area.
• Staff  would discourage lingering and call police when needed according to a pre-established protocol.

• What could an on-site security guard do?

• The presence of security staff on site at key times may deter inappropriate behavior in the immediate area; staff would call police to respond to an incident.

• What will be done to stop congregating/ lingering on 14th St. / Troy St.? How do you plan to measure success in stopping lingering?

• Staff would monitor property and would actively discourage lingering, and it would be addressed in the behavior contract that Center users would sign.
• Measures would be developed in consultation with neighbors and operator.

• How many parking spaces will be allocated for Center staff?

• Unknown at this time — will be determined as part of the Use Permit process and be in line with zoning requirements.

• What are the costs of this project?

• Purchase price was $27 million.
• Renovating floors 1-3 is expected to cost $7 million.
• Renovating floors 4-7 is expected to cost $5 million to $6 million.
• Operating expenses have not been determined yet.

• Where does funding come from?

• The purchase was made with local funds.
• Operating expenses would be covered through a combination of federal, state and local funding.

• Can the sleeping arrangement have the women’s area on the Woodbury Heights side?

• Designers studied this thoroughly. The proposed design allows for optimal traffic patterns within the building. The proposed layout would provide privacy from internal traffic for the respite beds, for the women’s sleeping area, and for bathroom areas.
• Where the center is adjacent to the residential property across the service alley, window treatments would provide for balance between privacy and natural lighting.

• Will the perimeter glass obscure views?

• Alternative window treatments under consideration would provide for balance between privacy and natural lighting.

• How is the proposed service alley wall different than the current one?

• The current knee wall would be replaced with an 8-foot wall between the service alley and adjacent property.
• Wall would be 20 feet from sidewalk/building line for good pedestrian visibility.
• Design would be compatible with existing building and local architecture.

• Is the entrance on Troy St.?

• The entrance is on 14th St., about 30 feet from the Troy St. corner.

• Is the existing smoking location the best choice?

• The proposed design would keep the smoking area in the location currently being used and more formally delineate it.

• What do clients do with their belongings?

• Would place them in lockable bins in the first-floor storage area.

• What are the next steps?

• The County Board must approve a Use Permit for the dormitory use within the Center.
• Tentatively, plans are for a March 4 Planning Commission hearing and a County Board hearing on March 16 or 19.
• Information on items for the March 16/19 County Board meeting will be posted not later than March 8.

• Hours of operation:  What are the proposed hours of operation?

• Center would be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Daytime client services would be provided Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Curfew:  Is there a curfew?

• Plans are for a 10 p.m. curfew at the Center.
• Allowances would be made for working hours of clients who hold jobs.

• Morning departure:  At what time can clients leave the shelter in the morning?

• Clients could leave the shelter beginning at 5 a.m.
• Allowances would be made for working hours of clients who hold jobs.

• Nursing care:  Will the Center offer “walk-in” nursing care?

• Nursing services would be available only for registered Center clients.
• Part-time or volunteer nurses would provide physical examinations, basic medical screenings, vaccinations, medication prescriptions, first aid, and wound dressing.

• Respite beds:  What level of care will be provided to clients in respite beds?

• Nursing bed users would have to be well enough to be discharged from hospital and be able to conduct Activities of Daily Living.
• Basic nursing care, as mentioned above, would be provided.

• Client expectations:  Are expectations different for winter bed clients than for year-round bed clients?

• Behavioral expectations would be the same for all clients.
• Additionally, all clients would be expected to have an initial assessment, to participate in developing a service plan, and to work toward the plan goals, which include permanent housing.

• Overflow: How will the Center address overflow if the Center’s capacity is reached?

• Space at the RPC shelter and Detention Center lobby would be used, as is the current practice.
• People may also be sent to nearby, non-Arlington shelters if space is available.

• Security:  How would you handle people who are released from the Detention Facility?

• Continuation of current practice.
• Shelter operator case managers would meet every two weeks at the Detention Center with appropriate parties to develop detailed discharge plans for people being released with nowhere to live.
• Plans would address housing, employment, benefits enrollment, mental health and substance abuse treatment, as needed, and any conditions related to probation.

• Are there going to be sex offenders at the Center?

• Very few sex offenders have stayed at the current shelter; the County would expect similar numbers at the Center.
• A Probation Officer would accompany a sex offender released on probation to the Center and participate in the intake process. The Probation Officer would also provide ongoing case management.
• Sex offenders would be required to report back to the Center by 3 p.m. and remain inside during the night.

• Late arrivals:  If someone comes at 2 a.m., will they be admitted?

• Yes.  They would be admitted so they don’t have to stay outside, and would go through formal intake during business hours.

• Will there be an after-hours entry system so clients may be admitted after the doors are locked?

• Center access would be controlled 24/7 via a buzzer/video system, allowing after-hours entry.

• Will there be a security guard?

• Under consideration is a security guard to be on site during key times for an initial operating period.
• Hours for the security guard would be established in the Center’s security plan.

Entrance

• Can entrance be as close to Courthouse Road as possible on the 14th St. side of the building?
• Can Center entrance be flipped with the main entrance so the Homeless Center’s entrance is closer to Courthouse Road?
• Will the clients be allowed to hang out (loiter) near the shelter?
• Will panhandling be tolerated?

• Because of Code and current/planned uses of the building, entrance location choice is limited to a 20-foot span on the 14th St. N side. Entry would be 30 feet from the Troy St. corner.
• Center staff would monitor the property and discourage lingering, panhandling and other nuisance behaviors, which would be specifically addressed in the behavior contract all clients sign.

Loading Dock and Screening:

• Limit hours of operation for loading dock (set hours of operation to not disrupt neighbors) to keep noise to a minimum.
• Have designated Dumpster areas that are enclosed with a fence or screening; currently they are dropped and block the loading zone.
• Raise the existing wall or replace it with an 8’ high treatment.
• Split decision on the open wall vs. solid, some feel the fencing or lattice type façade would provide a sense of security of seeing past the wall and if anyone is visible, others feel the solid wall would be better.
• Have loading dock screening duplicate the design and materials of the neighbor’s new fencing at the rear entrance to their building to stay consistent.

• Loading dock would be subject to County ordinances limiting use to 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Dumpsters would be enclosed in fenced/gated area of service alley.
• An 8-foot wall would be installed between the service alley and adjacent property.
• Wall would be 20 feet from sidewalk/building line for good pedestrian visibility.
• Design would be compatible with local architecture.
• Gate would not be added to the loading area, because the service alley is the emergency egress path from the building to the street.

Smoking Area:

• Comments were positive on location and management of the area.

• The proposed design would keep the smoking area in the location currently being used and more formally delineate it.

Site Improvements:

• Repair sidewalk at corner of Courthouse Rd. and 14th Street North, outside of Ragtime.
• Increase the sidewalk width at the 14th Street side of the building. Install a new sidewalk on the Troy Street side of the facility.

• Repairs would be made to the sidewalk adjacent to the Ragtime entrance.
• Current sidewalk widths are appropriate for anticipated pedestrian traffic.  Widening sidewalk on 14th St. would require elimination of on-street parking.

Sleeping Configuration/Window Treatments:

• Individuals expressed concern that the men’s sleeping quarters are located on the Troy Street side of the facility, facing their residence.  They suggested switching sleeping areas.
• Opaque glass was preferred for the sleeping areas for both men and women on the third floor with a clearstory to allow light to enter the spaces during the day.

• Designers studied sleeping configuration thoroughly.  The Center would serve more men than women.  The proposed design would allow for the most efficient flow of people from the entry to registration, dining area, and sleeping area.  It would provide privacy for the respite beds, for the women’s sleeping area, and for the bathrooms.
• Alternative window treatments under consideration would allow for balance between privacy and natural lighting.

Misc.:

• Where is kitchen exhaust?

• Kitchen exhaust would be located in service alley between third and fourth floors.

• Will the space be flexible? Seems like only a small amount of space is actually planned for sleeping?

• Sleeping space would be sufficient for up to 80 people. RPC shelter and Detention Center lobby can be used if needed for overflow, as is the current practice.  People may also be sent to nearby, non-Arlington shelters if space is available.

• Will the shelter be recording any information about the clients in case there is an incident?

• Information provided by clients would include their name.  If a client disclosed that he or she has an outstanding warrant, shelter staff would notify appropriate authorities.