The Vancouver Metropolis Council on Monday agreed to pay philanthropist Michael Lynch greater than $6.29 million for 3 acres within the Van Mall neighborhood the place the town plans to construct a 150-bed homeless shelter.
Lynch bought the three parcels at 5313 N.E. 94th Ave., the previous residence of Naydenov Gymnastics, for $6 million simply 10 days earlier than metropolis officers introduced they had been evaluating the location for the so-called bridge shelter.
“We’ve got to have services for people to get into housing,” Lynch stated.
Buy timing
Vancouver resident Shannon Stamps questioned the timing of Lynch’s buy at Monday’s assembly simply earlier than councilors voted unanimously for the acquisition contract.
“How did they know to purchase that property four months ago? … Sounds like it’s a forgone conclusion,” Stamps stated.
Town meant to buy the property even when it wasn’t going for use for the bridge shelter, metropolis spokeswoman Laura Shepard stated. Town and the Lynch Basis had been independently on the lookout for an applicable location for the homeless shelter, she stated.
In Might, the town of Vancouver pleaded for Clark County’s fast assist with funds to buy a web site for the bridge shelter out of concern the property could possibly be scooped up by another person. The Clark County Council voted to make the town undergo the identical prolonged course of as different initiatives. A committee finally denied the town funding in October.
Lynch stated though he bought the location with the intention that it will be used as the town’s homeless shelter, metropolis workers didn’t ask him to purchase it.
“We were all looking at the homeless problem and how to address it and what places would potentially work,” Lynch stated.
Lynch represents the property of his father, Edward C. Lynch, a retired building government and philanthropist who died in 2015. The property will degree the property, together with the 27,224-square-foot former Naydenov constructing, which the town decided to be unusable for the shelter.
Lynch is not going to make a revenue on the sale due to this extra work, stated Aaron Lande, the town’s coverage supervisor.
The Lynches have a historical past of partaking in charitable causes addressing homelessness. The Edward C. Lynch Property owns the property the town leases for its downtown Protected Keep shelter, a cluster of 20 huts that every sleep two folks.
Lynch stated the deliberate 150-bed shelter, which may have on-site drug remedy and different companies to assist folks land extra everlasting housing, will assist fill a niche in Vancouver.
“It kind of helps everybody in the community. It helps people with businesses and homes being impacted,” Lynch stated. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”
Neighbors
The proximity of the deliberate 150-bed shelter to a toddler care heart and Orchards West Park worries the encircling neighbors. Some have expressed concern or anger at metropolis council conferences.
Nevertheless, most residents who spoke at Monday’s metropolis council assembly expressed assist for the undertaking, together with workers from the neighboring Kidspace Youngster Enrichment Middle.
“The goal is for both populations to thrive in the same neighborhood,” stated Kathy Stanley, the middle’s proprietor.
The 4 Kidspace staff who attended the assembly requested for the town to create sidewalks and crosswalks by the shelter, place a bus cease in entrance of the shelter so residents don’t should stroll close to the kid care heart, monitor the location with safety 24/7 and clear up parks.
These particulars can be labored out when the council discusses how the shelter will function, stated Jamie Spinelli, the town’s homeless response supervisor. Proper now, officers are nonetheless figuring out the shelter’s design with the purpose of opening the ability in mid-2026.
On Monday, the town council voted to rent Portland agency Scott Edwards Structure to design the bridge shelter and nonprofit Do Good Multnomah, which can function the shelter, to seek the advice of with the design crew.
Spinelli stated she hopes the shelter residents can work to enhance the neighborhood round them.
“In fact, that community building aspect is the core of all our (shelter) communities,” Spinelli stated. “The same thing will occur here.”