CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville City Council has moved to purchase a $6.2 million property for a low-barrier homeless shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive.
Built in 1964, the 27,000-square foot former office building is a brick structure that sits atop 3.8 acres behind the Days Inn and the Country Inn & Suites on Emmet St.
Charlottesville Director of Economic Development, Chris Engel, says the building is in overall good shape, but renovation won’t happen overnight.
“We are proceeding with a full, third-party condition assessment that’s going to take place this week that could reveal some concerns or give bill of clean health, so to speak,” he told Council at the end of Monday’s regular meeting. “This is the first step. It does put a piece of property under the control of the city, who can then work with local partners or others to operate and renovate the facility.”
According to a source, the city projects the site could offer 150 beds for the unhoused.
Who will staff the shelter remains a major, outstanding question and one without an easy answer.
Per a source, the city has been in discussions with multiple non-profit organizations about staffing the shelter. It could also consider hiring an outside company to run the location.
A low barrier shelter, one that has no work requirements or restrictions, has been on the city’s wish list for some time. The building is seen as a good solution, but one person who attended the meeting voiced opposition.
During open public comment session, Christopher Wall, who says he lives on the street, told Council that he has spent time talking to other homeless people to learn their thoughts on the issue.
“The thing of it is, a lot of them feel like the proposed location is segregation,” he said. “Putting us out there, out of site and out of mind, I don’t feel is like the solution. If it is done, I hope there is and are resources put in place and implemented. That would be the best way to do it because I know you guys are actually trying to find a solution and fix this problem.”
The purchase price would be paid through CIP Contingency Fund with money already set aside for such an anticipated purchase.
Council authorized the move toward the purchase and a $100,000 deposit to be placed, and the actual appropriation decision must be made after a public hearing likely at the October 20 meeting.
The city hopes to close the deal on Nov. 20.
