Image courtesy of Fairfax County
In an email newsletter sent out to constituents earlier this month, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck announced that plans to build a homeless shelter at 2801 Beacon Hill Rd. will move forward.
The homeless shelter will be co-located with the new Penn Daw Fire Station and will replace the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter which currently operates out of an old pump house on land that belongs to Fort Belvoir.
The new fire station was approved as part of a 2015 Public Safety Bond Referendum and the funding to renovate or replace the homeless shelter was approved by county voters in a 2016 Human Services and Community Development Bond Referendum. Despite some concerns of siren noise by nearby residents, the new fire station has received community support. On the other hand, the homeless shelter has spurred some opposition.
Many nearby residents voiced concerns over decreased home values, safety, traffic and noise during a number of community meetings held on the potential shelter site. Other community groups voiced support for the new shelter, saying that Fairfax County needs modern facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Storck organized a Penn Daw Fire Station and Supportive Housing Advisory Committee to evaluate the best location for the shelter and fire station. 21 potential locations were considered but ultimately, County staff decided to move forward with the 3.5 acre site on Beacon Hill Road, formerly occupied by Hybla Valley Nursery.
“After a year of considerable analysis that included community input, site considerations of size, zoning, parking, and community impacts, and with significant community outreach, County staff recommended the Beacon Hill site for co-location of a new fire station and emergency and supportive housing. Other available sites could not provide the same level of services that Fairfax County residents expect and need,” Storck said in his email.
County staff will begin planning and design work for the shelter and fire station. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings on the project some time in 2022. More information on the project can be found here.
