Community members debate proposed homeless center near Admiral and Sheridan

A nonprofit that helps homeless people is looking to put a new day center near Admiral and Sheridan, but people who live nearby and business owners in the area have concerns.

Both sides shared their perspectives during a city meeting on Tuesday. Applicants say there is a need for more homeless resources in the area, but opponents are concerned about the traffic the center will bring to the area.

A lively city meeting

More than a dozen people spoke out Tuesday during a city meeting after The Merchant, a homeless nonprofit currently located near 6th and Peoria, submitted plans to open a place where the homeless can get hot meals and other services during the day. The facility would go in a former bank near Admiral and Sheridan.

Frank Sanders was among those who spoke against the plan. He says he's concerned about safety and property values for people like him who own property in the area.

"What they're going to have them do at the end of the day—where they're going, how they're getting there—are they just going to basically walk out of their doors into the community?" said Sanders.

He says he'd like to see the applicants take time to listen to community concerns.

How applicants are responding

Paul Schmidt is with The Merchant and says that's exactly what they plan to do.

"We're going to have meetings with them to clear some of their fears," said Schmidt.

He says The Merchant has security and carefully vets the people they help through background checks, court records, and the sex offender registry.

"We don't just want to be a partner to the homeless, we want to be a partner to neighbors. If we can get them involved with us, I would love to open that building up to the neighborhood associations," he said.

What's next

Members of the Board of Adjustments—which is the first of several steps in the approval process—postponed action on the proposal to a meeting next month because members say they have questions about the plan, too.

That meeting is scheduled for July 22nd at 1 p.m. at City Hall.