Boom Housing of God
posted by on October 26 at 14:35 PM
When Catholic Community Services announced plans to construct a four-story, mixed-use building on 23rd Ave S and S Main St, some Squire Park residents were ready to grab their pitchforks. As Washington’s largest private provider of human services, CCS counsels drug addicts and assists prisoners reentering public life, among other services. Neighbors were concerned that this development, a few blocks from a daycare and Garfield High School, might become the home of addicts, felons, and sex offenders.
It turns out, Village Spirit’s 51 units are “planned to be affordable housing for the homeless, poor, and low-wage earners,” says Evelyn Allen, director of the Village Spirit Center, one of many projects managed by CCS and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority (AHA). “Our focus will be on supporting African-American families, and addressing the disproportionate needs for African-American families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.” (However, Allen notes, nobody would be excluded based on his or her race. Or for not being Catholic.) “There will be no sex offenders in that building, and no felons with crimes against people or property,” she assures.
The 12-million dollar development, which will occupy the CCS administration building’s existing parking lot, is part of King County’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. Funding is granted by the Gates Foundation’s Sound Families Initiative along with public and private contributions. It will be the AHA’s 42nd housing development in Western Washington.
The centrally located, low-cost units are a refreshing break from expensive condos for Seattleites getting priced out of their homes. But usually, low-cost development comes at an esthetic price—a price that CCS has been willing to pay. Here’s the CCS administrative building:
“The staff here was like, ‘Can’t you do something about to this building, too?’” says Allen. No, she can’t. But she is determined to make the new building, slated for completion in 2009, more pleasing than some of the impersonal strip-mall developments and boxy mixed-use buildings to the south on 23rd. The retail will sit close to the sidewalk, facing the street. “I have a special affinity to make sure our building is more inviting,” she says.
"No felons with crimes against people or property" I have always wondered if someone leaves prison and is trying to start their life over again for a petty property crime where they would go. I guess it is not the AHA office if they want to have a place to live.
All those Christian values at work. Once a criminal there is no forgiveness for you EVER.... I hate Christians for their hypocritical views.
Oh my God! Isn't this where they found Mia Zapata's body dumped near 24th & Yesler:
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=13100
Do they have no morals?
those are some messed up sentences. i can't get a sence of WTF the staff is saying.
sense.
not sence.
Well, whatever they end up building there, it certainly can't be any worse than the butt-ugly condos on the other side of 23rd.
CCS can't put felons there because federal law excludes them from housing, not because CCS doesn't want to. The feds don't believe that felons might need a break, even if they've served their time.
Of course, withholding services, or even the possibility of housing or jobs, even on their own, from released felons greatly increases the chance that they will reoffend -- indeed, almost mandates it.
As for the Mia Zapata thing -- huh?
This sounds like a great project-we need about 20 more like it. Big up to CCS for spearheading this.
Christians are all child molestors and perverts. Christianity is at the root of all the world's oppression and problems.
Judaism does more for social justice than any other religion.
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