The Original Highlands Rejects Wayside's Mega-Shelter

Mon, 8/18/08 - Wayside Christian Mission met with the Original Highlands Neighborhood Association to propose re-locating their East Market facility into the Original Highlands. The proposal was to locate a 300+ bed homeless shelter in the old Mercy Campus.  Wayside repeatedly stated that they did not want to move into the neighborhood without our support, both in their meeting and in their original letter to the Original Highlands Neighborhood Association.  

The neighborhood association did a door-to-door announcement and took a vote to consider the sentiments to this proposal.  The overwhelming majority of residents, while sympathetic to Wayside's mission, voted to oppose Wayside's project on the basis that it was simply far too large for a residential neighborhood.   Subsequent research into zoning regulations in numerous other cities shows that they too have been down this road and do not allow any large scale transitional housing facilities in residential neighborhoods. 

 Sadly, and despite Wayside's promises to the contrary, we've been placed in the uncomfortable position of resisting Wayside and having to fight for reasonable zoning rules for mega-shelters ever since.  For the full backstory and current news, please visit the sub-committee's web site: 

Highlanders For Responsible Growth .com