A no-parking sign blocks an entrance to the empty lot that is the proposed location of the third Safe Stay site in downtown Vancouver. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
The intersection of West 11th and Daniels streets will soon be the home to up to 40 Clark County residents transitioning out of homelessness.
But those traveling past the city block downtown might notice that it is still an empty gravel lot despite the original opening date projected for somewhere in early 2023.
So what’s happening with the city’s third Safe Stay community?
In November, the Vancouver City Council voted 5-2 to green-light a third Safe Stay Community at 415 W. 11th St., in downtown Vancouver. It was initially proposed to open around January or February, but wet weather complicated timelines from moving to the next step, which included paving and stormwater drainage analysis.
Now another speed bump has pushed back the deadline: construction and showers.
Similar to the other two Safe Stays, the downtown location is projected to include 20 modular pallet shelters that house up to 40 people. The third Safe Stay will also have a mandated 1,000-foot no-camping ban.
But one new feature to the third Safe Stay is the addition of three showers and restrooms for residents — instead of the port-a-potties at the first two Safe Stay sites.
This amendment has led to higher costs for construction, which has stalled the timeline.
Jamie Spinelli, the homeless response coordinator with the city’s Homeless Assistance Response Team, said that the city will put the entire construction job out to bid. Usually, the city would use a job order, which is a fixed-term contract. The other two Safe Stays used this contract model.
The city is currently creating a bid package. Once that is complete, a proposal request will be sent out — which will stay open and available to contractors for 30 days.
The city already has the pallet homes in storage, and once a contractor is selected, it should be a quick turnaround to when the shelter community is built, and residents can move in.
“I would imagine it would be pretty soon (after a contractor is hired), because we have done this before and know what it takes. But of course, we don’t know. I don’t know what supply chain issues look like, right?” Spinelli said.
The new Safe Stay site will be nearly identical to the two existing sites save for the addition of showers, and the city plans to adjust the exterior. Due to its downtown location, the site must follow different design standards needed in the neighborhood.
The Safe Stay will have a horizontal wooden fence, different from the chainlink on the other two pallet communities. The third site will also have a fenced area designated for pets.
This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
