What are your thoughts about the proposal to fund the design process for a Housing Resource Center at 104 N. Witchduck Road?

I do not support the idea to relocate the Housing Resource Center to Witchduck Road. I believe that putting that there would be a mistake. First, 104 Witchduck RD is only 1.25 miles from Town Center. If the Housing Center were to go to 104 Witchduck RD homeless people would walk to Town Center to sleep in the parking garages or ask for change from people at the restaurants at Town Center. This is unacceptable. Having homeless people walk around Town Center would deter people from going to Town Center. This cannot happen. Second, there are neighborhoods close to where this Housing Resource Center is proposed. No one wants to see a homeless person walk through their neighborhood. We can fix this. First, we can move the Housing Resource Center out to Pungo. This removes the homeless people to an area where they will be secluded and will not interfere with anyone. However, this removes the homeless people from where they make money and this might cause the homeless people to go back to the beach. Second, move the Housing Resource Center to Birdneck Rd or Oceana Rd and put it just outside the AICUZ zone. There are already very few homes surrounding the AICUZ and that is where the Housing Resource Center should be placed.

Well, I guess that is one way to boost light rail ridership numbers. And to top it off, I imagine the homeless will probably get "free" tickets.

This is absolutely the wrong location for such a center. As many others have stated, the homeless are in their current locations for a reason. More often than not, it is near where they are able to make a little bit of cash...mainly from the tourists at the oceanfront.

Must be done, yes! But not far from where the homeless live now. They are there because it's where they "earn" their money. They won't use it because they won't want to commute. Forget the new location and build it near the ocean front, where it belongs.

AS YOU PROCEED, CAN I PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING? AS WITCHDUCK IS BEING WIDEN, THE VIRGINIA BEACH FEED & SEED STORE NEEDS TO EXPAND BEFORE IT LOSES IT ENTIRE BUSINESS. ON MY ATTACHED FILE, TO SAVE THIS BUSINESS, PART OF THE CENTER PROPERTY CAN BE PASSED (DEED OR PURCHSE) TO HIS LONG ESTABLISHED BUSINESS. VAB F & S WILL LOOSE IN STREET ACCESS AND BE BOUGHT FOR THE ROAD WIDING. ALLOW THIS BUSINESS TO STAY AND THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR THE CENTER.

A COMMENT FOR CENTER, WITH THE EXPANSION PLANS FOR THE 'TIDE', WHERE IS THE STATION BE LOCATED IN THE WITCHDUCK AREA? A PARK AND RIDE LOT IS NEEDED. COULD THE CENTER BE LOCATED IN THE OLD BILL'S FLEA LOT THAT IS OPEN?

THERE IS NEED FOR THE CENTER BUT NEAR TOWN CENTER MAY NOT BE A GOOD CHOICE. BUT I REALLY PROVIDE A GOOD LOCATION. WILL NOT NOMINATE ANY LOCATION.

THANKS FOR ALLOWING MY 2 CENTS.

I've been following the various incarnations of this proposal and I doubt there is a site inside Virginia Beach that won't concern some residents. In part, the assumption seems to be that the people the shelter serves will spend the daytime on the nearby streets, or as one person said, catching the Tide to Town Center to panhandle. So, what will go on during the day? Will the people the center serves be enrolled in classes, perhaps at the Renaissance Academy? Will there be counselors and AA meetings? I think that providing daytime services would prevent what the community fears while getting at least some people back onto a track to permanent housing.
A second concern I have is that provision will be made to safely house people who are LGBT. This group is statistically more likely to have been abandoned by families when they were too young to have other resources.
Third, how will this center relate geographically to the nearest Tide station?
Lastly, at least one person has already taken up residence under the 264 Witchduck overpass. Surely it would be better if he were in a shelter and getting help.

Here’s the proposal statement #4) “We also do not want to move neighborhood impacts from one place to another. The fact that the Witchduck Rd. site is not directly adjacent to any residential neighborhoods is a key reason it is being considered." It states that the city is attempting to have it away from a neighborhood. This sounds like a reasonable proposal to help the homeless. However, here's the problem. This resource center may not be adjacent to a neighborhood. However, it is absolutely within quick walking distance of Kempsville Heights - West and East. Instead of being near the oceanfront where this situation is impacting neighborhoods there, the proposal is to move it close enough to Kempsville Heights where it could impact us here. First we had to deal with the problems associated with the widening of Witchduck Rd. (Witchduck Rd. Project Phase 1) with all the safety issues, cut through traffic, speeders, stop sign runners, etc. The city didn't expect that to happen...but here we are dealing with it every single day. Now we might have to deal with any problems associated with a Housing Resource Center that the city didn’t expect? This would be completely unfair to residents and/or the property of these two neighborhoods. To say nothing of the fact that it’s proposed to be right near the Renaissance Academy School. Please find another use for the old Kempsville Lumber site that is of a shopping or business nature. Put the resource center where it’s needed, which by all accounts seems to be at the Oceanfront

It amazes me that we all think we should help the homeless, “but not in my neighborhood” seems to be the out cry. I think the new center is a great idea. I don’t have a problem with the location. (Witchduck Road). I live in Kempsville less then a mile from the new purposed center.

A great many of the homeless are working poor, Veterans that should have gotten services when they returned home from war, but didn’t, families that have fallen on hard times, there are many reasons as to why people are homeless.

The only problem that I see is the transportation for people to be able to use the services. I also realize that the city does not want them at “their beach”. But if that’s where the largest amount of homeless are, then so be it. The services should be where the homeless can get to, even if it is at “The Beach”. It will be difficult for the homeless to get out to the Witchduck Center with the bus service the way it is at this time.

People complain about it knocking down the value of our homes….we don’t need the homeless to do that! The city has already de-valued our home. We now owe more then its worth. Stop blaming the idea that the homeless will devalue our homes. We got the city council for that. If you’re concerned about the value of your home going down write your council person.

The homeless are here, and we must deal with this reality even if the facility is located on Witchduck or the beach.
I support Virginia Beach's willingness to address the issue, but, as someone else said, Not another study costing thousands and thousands of dollars, when research is already available.

I do not want a Housing Resource center within walking distance of my house. Our neighborhood is comprised of mostly senior citizens and it is a quiet one. The possibility of relocating “homeless residents” within walking distance of Witchduck’s walking/bike paths is unsettling.
I understand that the city wants to help the homeless. I do not believe that locating the center at Witchduck is the best solution. I believe the majority of homeless stay at the beach so locating this center away from the beach front would not be the best solution. Please, do not fund a design study until a more suitable location is considered. Our crime rate has already increased since the widening of Witchduck Road.

I live in Kempsville Heights as close as one can get to the proposed "Housing Resource Center" without leaving the neighborhood and I vehementaly oppose this project. Kempsville is NOT a suitable location for a this center. I will vote against any council member that votes for this project. I will advocate for my friends, neighbors, and colleagues to vote against any council member that approves this project.

While I understand the need to provide support to the homeless population, this center should be located in an area with fewer residence, fewer children, fewer bus stops, and fewer schools. It should be located near Virginia Beach Social Services on VB Blvd.

The children who attend Rennaissance Academy are already dealing with addiction and behavioral issues, locating the "Housing Resource Center" across from that school will bring people who will prey upon these vulnerable young people who are trying to get their lives sorted out. Kempsville Elementary is less than 1 mile away from this proposed center as well.

I would be reluctant to let my children play outside in the yard knowing that this "Housing Resource Center" would be nearby. I understand this is not a residential center, but one that will transport the homeless to other sites and provide meals. However, we are still talking about 30 to 40 people (or more) people per day, many with criminal records, loitering around the area.

I hope that this location will instead become a light rail stop with a park/ride lot similiar to what is at Newtown Road. That is the appropriate use for this site.

I am sorry I do not want a Housing Resource center within walking distance of my house.

Our crime rate has already increased since the widening of Witchduck Road.

All you have to do is look on any web site and see the problems that a center would bring to our neighborhood. Our neighborhood is quite and made up of mainly senior citizens.

On a web site I saw where 26% of homeless people have mental illness.
38% have alcohol dependence
26% other substance abuse.

I don't know about you, but when I see homeless I see people urination in public, empty shopping carts, smelly clothing, etc...........

If the homeless should get kicked out of this new facility, where would they go? They have no job etc so I for see them hanging out on our neighborhood corners panhandling for money.

I enjoy sitting on my porch watching the children play. I want to be in a safe neighborhood where I would not be afraid to answer my doorbell.

I want to live in a neighborhood, Kempsville Heights, not in a business area. If you want to add something to Witchduck road let me be for the neighborhood, not something that will knock our property value down and put us in danger.