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Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck will hold a community meeting on June 8, 2023, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the Bryant Alternative High School cafeteria at 2709 Popkins Lane, 22306, to give a progress report on the planning and show three versions of architects’ plans for the new shelter, supportive housing, affordable housing, and fire station. 

The plans differ mainly on where green space is located in front of and behind the buildings.  Housing advocates and residents prefer green space behind the building to provide private areas for residents. The housing section includes:

• Replacement for the Kennedy Shelter with 50 beds
• 20 permanent supportive housing units
• 55 affordable housing (40 1BR and 15 2BR). 

All info on Shelter planning meetings is at: Penn Daw Shelter https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/capital-projects/penn-daw-fire-station-and-supportive-housing

We expect the project to go to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Public hearings by the end of 2023.

The three plans can be viewed below.

On December 2, 2021, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck made the following announcement:

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.

After very careful consideration, and in consultation with and the support of Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay and Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, I have accepted staff’s recommendation. County staff will now proceed with planning and design work. I will be asking many members of the current Advisory Committee to continue in their critical role to provide design and community feedback throughout this process. Chairman Jeff McKay shared, “I appreciate all the work of County staff and the community to get us to this point. It is vital that we work together to make sure this facility is state of the art, addresses community concerns, and provides help for our vulnerable neighbors. While I know this isn’t the outcome some had hoped for, we will work closely with the Fire and Rescue Department and surrounding neighbors to be sure this co-location is carefully designed to meet multiple County and community needs.”

Benefits of the Beacon Hill site include:

• Co-location of the fire station, emergency and affordable housing in alignment with the County’s One Fairfax and Diversion First Objectives; and provide considerable cost savings;

• Easy access to public transportation and job opportunities for housing residents; and

• Locating affordable housing with emergency and supportive housing provides residents with an opportunity to move through the continuum of housing options.

I am committed to working with the Advisory Committee and surrounding neighborhoods to make this a safe, state-of-the-art facility of which we can all be proud. Formal public hearings will be held by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in 2022. Visit the project website for more information.

See the recording of a March 2020 meeting for a county presentation on searching for sites for the shelter and the fire house, proposing co-location of both, statements by formerly homeless people, and an audience Q&A. This meeting was co-sponsored by VIC and the South County Task Force, both of which support a modern homeless shelter in Mt Vernon District.The county recently posted Frequently Asked Questions about the shelter.