Case 2010-077 Karluk Manor 07/27/2010 Questions to the Petitioner
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Case 2010-077 Karluk Manor 07/27/2010 Questions to the Petitioner 1. If Karluk is the designated major pedestrian connection, and has only 4' sidewalks in places, shouldn't it have additional safety improvements? Can there be any reduction of lane widths or shoulders and gutters to allow a pedestrian safety barrier? What are other options for physical safety improvements along Karluk? We believe that the existing pedestrian facilities are sufficient. Based on field measurements, the sidewalks on Karluk are a minimum of 5’ wide and are 5’4” in places in front of the south building, they are 5’ wide on the 6th Ave. side and almost 6’ on the 5th Ave. side. There are existing bulb-outs at the crossing at 5th Avenue. We have an e-mail from the former Traffic Engineer, Bob Kniefel, from May 10, 2010 stating: Our review of the crash information for the 1998 – 2008 period shows only two reported pedestrian crashes in that 11 year period. This is a very low rate for pedestrian crashes and would not show up on our highest crash rate intersection list. 2. I'd like to hear how RurAL CAP would use the proposed video cameras at Fairview Park? Would Karluk Manor staff who spotted their residents on the monitors be able to go and counsel or collect their residents from the Park, if they were drinking at the Park? Would it be possible to use the videos to get baseline data on drinking/camping in Fairview Park before Karluk Manor began operating, to compare to afterward? This would probably be more valid if there were baseline data from several trouble spots around Fairview. If RurAL CAP were permitted to install and monitor cameras in the pavilion area of the Fairview Lions Park, we would propose to set the cameras up so that they could be monitored over the internet by staff at Karluk Manor and other interested parties. For example, the Community Service Patrol (CSP) has indicated that they would be interested in being able to access the camera feed over the internet to be able to better address service to this high-demand area. Karluk Manor staff would contact CSP or the Anchorage Police Department (APD) or other appropriate services if individuals were seen breaking the law or in distress. In addition, RurAL CAP has adopted the park and will be visiting it three times per week and performing a cleanup weekly. Already, during one visit, staff found that the lighting in the pavilion area was 1 | Page burned out and they reported it to the Parks and Recreation Department immediately. Having access to a remote camera would allow RurAL CAP to remotely monitor the area and report potential issues to the appropriate party (Parks and Recreation for facility or equipment problems, APD for illegal activities, CSP for inebriates, etc.) If Karluk Manor staff observe inebriated Karluk Manor residents in the park, they will ask the resident to leave and will follow up with the resident regarding the violation of the conduct code. Repeated violations would be cause for eviction from the program. RurAL CAP has conducted studies looking at CSP pickups for Homeward Bound residents prior to housing and after housing. Residents of Karluk Manor would be requested to participate in similar studies. 3. Petitioner’s response to the issues raised by public/commission (only principal issues). The major issues raised by the public and commission have been addressed in the questions before and after this question, but are summarized below. Pedestrian Safety: As noted above, the intersections near the property have sidewalks, bulb-outs, and crosswalks for pedestrian safety. The MOA Traffic Engineer indicated that this area was not considered to be especially hazardous for pedestrians. As noted during the public testimony, homeless inebriates already regularly cross through these busy intersections. Concentration of Social Services in Fairview: It is true that many social services are located in downtown and the surrounding areas, including Fairview. And, as noted by Planning staff in the attached Environmental Review Checklist, housing programs for low-income and disabled populations should be sited in areas that have access to services geared toward this populations. RurAL CAP did not target Fairview for this housing project and in fact, they investigated possible sites in several community councils, as illustrated in their site selection process (see attached). Affordable and supportive housing operated by public and non-profit agencies is dispersed throughout the community, as shown on the affordable housing map included in the attachment. Impact of Location on Effectiveness of Housing First: Public testimony on this project questioned the effectiveness of Housing First projects located in the areas where chronic homeless inebriates congregate. Many Housing First properties are located in or near the 2 | Page very areas that their residents frequented prior to participation in the program. There are two housing properties in Columbus, Ohio that are very similar to Karluk Manor. Both projects used existing buildings and are located in low-income, high crime-rate areas; areas where the targeted population already congregate. Both housing facilities are located in proximity to bus service, convenient shopping, employment opportunities, and social services. Like Karluk Manor, residents hold their own leases and pay their own rents. They are not required to remain sober or seek treatment; however, case managers are available to help put residents in touch with services if the tenants choose to participate. Each building is designed with a single point-of-entry, 24-hour monitoring, one common area, and meeting space. There are many other examples where Housing First properties are located near downtown areas that have concentrations of chronic homeless inebriates. Seattle’s Downtown Emergency Services Center has 431 residential units located in the downtown/Pioneer Square area and the 1811 Eastlake property is located three blocks from the county sleep-off center. Portland, Denver, and Minneapolis also have Housing First properties located in downtown areas with high concentrations of chronic inebriates. Appropriate Size of Housing First Properties: There is no evidence that any one size of Housing First property is more effective than any other. Housing First properties throughout the country range from small (25 residents in Parsons Apartments in Columbus, Ohio) to very large (190 residents in the Morrison Hotel in downtown Seattle). The number of residents that can be housed depends on the size of the property and the staffing level depends on the number of residents housed. Many programs in other cities have renovated hotels for this use, such as the Morrison Hotel (190 residents) and the Union Hotel (52 residents) in Seattle and the Biltmore (76 units) and Butte (38 units) hotels in Portland. Appropriate Level of Services/Staffing at Housing First Properties: The Housing First properties across the country provide varying levels of services to their residents. The primary purpose of Housing First is to provide safe housing for the special needs population. Participation in a treatment program is not required. Karluk Manor staff will, however, interact with the residents on a daily basis and solicit interest in treatment or other services that can be provided to the residents by a number of existing service providers and case managers that work with RurAL CAP on a regular basis. A similar model to the Karluk Manor model is being used successfully at Parsons Apartments and Annishinabe Wakiagun in Columbus, Ohio. 3 | Page Like Karluk Manor there are no certified caregivers or registered nurses on site, however, a full-time Service Engagement Specialist (similar to Karluk Manor’s Residential Services Specialist) is employed and located on-site for each property. Impacts on Neighboring Land Uses: As evidenced by the public testimony on this case, the neighborhood around the site and the Fairview Community Council area currently are impacted by high numbers of chronic homeless inebriates. This proposed property would add trained personnel into the area conducting on-going outreach and increase the level of scrutiny and intervention associated with chronic homeless inebriates in the area. RurAL CAP has proven to be a good neighbor in other areas and will work with the neighbors to address any issues which arise related to residents of this property. Impacts on Fairview Lions (Karluk) Park: Again, this is an area that is currently impacted by chronic homeless inebriates. RurAL CAP’s commitment to monitoring and adopting this park is expected to reduce problems in the park, as evidenced by the responses from Parks and Recreation, the Anchorage Fire Department, the Anchorage Police Department and Emergency Services on the Environmental Review Checklist (attached). RurAL CAP has already received favorable feedback from local residents on their cleanup efforts during their recent visits to the park. 4. Petitioner’s statement as to why they believe this application is consistent with the comprehensive plan and with title 21 standards, esp. specific requirements for CU’s. Consistency with Anchorage 2020: See the attached list of comprehensive plan policies and how this project conforms with them. The zoning ordinance passed by the Assembly on chronic homeless inebriates (AO 2010-3) and the 2008-2012 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan (CHCDP) provide the more detailed strategies on how and where housing for this special needs population is appropriate. The ordinance limits the ability to site these facilities in most residential areas. The CHCDP includes affordable housing and homelessness strategies. The #1 objectives for those respective strategies are as follows: • Affordable housing: Expand the supply of affordable rental housing opportunities for low- and extremely-low income households, with emphasis on special needs and homeless. Karluk Manor would undeniably expand the supply of affordable rental housing opportunities for extremely low- income individuals who are disabled and homeless.