I would definitely be interested in finding out about what else is in the area and how full those places are before passing judgement on this new proposed location. If there isn't much currently available, having a shelter could be an invaluable help as far as helping the homeless population in UCity and surrounding areas as well as, on a more selfish note, keeping them from panhandling and pestering other people on the street.

As somebody else already mentioned, I would also take issue with it being across the street from a school.

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There's an article in the UC Review that talks about the meeting. It's not online yet. Basically it says that neighbors, community organization members and at least a couple of developers attended to voice concerns. Apparently the shelter is planned to replace the beds that had been at the church with the collapsed steeple. There were a few quotes from the Lutheran organization, then a note that when the Review asked for some follow-up the good folks at Lutheran said Councilwoman Blackwell's office asked them not to speak to the community or the press.

It sounds like a family-oriented shelter, one that will hold lots of kids, and for periods of 6-9 months.

There were some questions at the meeting about whether this was "midnight legislation" and also some questions about why the building couldn't be sold to West Catholic. It didn't say if West Catholic is interested, though.

Blackwell's office said there would be a community meeting at Lea School to discuss it--some time in the middle of August, I think.

The article is up online now including a picture of the proposed site.


The UCReview article approachs the issue from a variety of angles. I suggest reading it in its entirety. One interesting quote caught my eye.

I realize that there is certian type of knee-jerk NIMBY reaction to any kind of "homeless shelter" to be expected but there are also valid concerns about how well the facility will be run, how well what Blackwell later calls the "Good Neighbor Policy" in the article is implemented. It strikes me as odd to not encourage a feeling of trust and open communication between the facility's operator Lutheran Settlement House and the neighbors. I know very little about operating these types of facilities but it seems to me the way you build community trust is by letting the neighbors get to know and trust the organization operating the facility. I maybe politically naive - its just how I would do it. Perhaps they are just waiting till they "have their ducks all in a row" as it were to make the best presentation possible - I hope so.

The article ->
http://www.philly1.com/story6072005.html

I can't wait to vote against Blackwell.

FWIW, my previous apartment in Old Kensington was right next door to a Lutheran Settlement House and I never had any problem with it. I never would've known it was there if I hadn't walked past it and read the sign.

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• Write to your state and local elected officials
• Report suspicious activity to the police department

I have no well-considered position on this issue, but I'll pass this letter for those who are interested. I believe the website listed at the bottom has the link for the petition and position statement.




Hello everybody,

The Sansom Street Community Coalition met last Saturday to discuss the
recent introduction of Bill No. 050575 by Councilwoman Blackwell. This
bill, if allowed to be voted in on September 15th, will authorize The
City of Philadelphia to lease the 70,228 sq. ft. building at 4508
Chestnut St. to establish a homeless shelter. The terms of the bill
require that the shelter be zoned for a minimum of 340 beds.

The meeting was attended by a broad cross-section of residents,
institutional representatives, community group leaders, and developers,
all of whom agreed that the proposed shelter would cause great harm to
our community, much of which has only recently emerged or is only now
emerging from various states of blight.

The attached petition is the primary result of the meeting. Please
print out a copy for your neighbors, local businesses, local
institutions, etc. We need as many signatures from this area as we can
get to send a clear message to Councilwoman Blackwell that this area is
already doing its part for the homeless of Philadelphia, and that our
neighborhood simply cannot bear the load of such a massive facility at
this point. In addition to the petition, I am attaching a statement
outlining the objections we have to the bill and to the facility.

Councilwoman Blackwell's office has tentatively scheduled a meeting
regarding the proposed shelter for Thursday, August 4th at 6pm at the
Lea School (47th and Locust). That meeting is our target date to have
the bulk of the signatures ready. Please contact me by email if you
have a petition with signatures to return.

For copies of these documents and updates regarding this issue, please
visit the following website:
http://www.mcgillsociety.org/4508/

Richard Moore
Sansom Street Community Coalition

Didn't she run unopposed?

Where does one send the petition after signing it?

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I think the key is the size of the facility. Maybe I haven't read this thread closely enough, but this looks to be a fairly big facility they're proposing, and often that's the straw that breaks the camel's back - bringing too many people in to an already densely populated urban neighborhood. This was one of the problems Fairmount had with the Archdiocese's planned conversion of the St. Hedwig's church to a 5-county addiction treatment center back in 2000. We had the potential for hundreds, maybe even thousands of people to be brought to this center - totally out of keeping with the quiet neighborhood setting of the property.

Can non-UC neighbors sign this petition too? Or would that cause Blackwell to discard it as non-representative?

The last time she was opposed I believe it was by Prentice Cole of Zeke's Mainline BBQ fame during the same year as the Street vs. Katz 1.

There is an interesting rumor about some arson that happend to neighboring house to Prentice's. The rumor has something to do with bungled addresses. I personally have my doubts but there are folks who swear by it.

While Lutheran Settlement Homes has a great track record in terms of operating shelters, some of Blackwell's aides do not. I never completely understood all of this weird political intrigue at the time and still don't, but I would sure would love if someone could explain it to me. PM's would be fine.