Statement Opposing the Proposed Stabilization and Sobering Center on Park Rd.

While I wholeheartedly support the need for treatment and wrap-around services for individuals struggling with alcohol and substance use disorder and related behavioral health challenges in Columbia Heights, I am vehemently opposed to the stabilization and sobering center being located on Park Road as proposed by the Mayor with the support of Councilmember Nadeau.

The choice to place this proposed facility in the middle of a residential corridor is profoundly concerning. A sobering center so close to homes and condo/apartment buildings has raised understandable concerns from residents worried about how this facility will further disrupt an already heavily trafficked residential block. Current DBH policy allows that at any time, a person may visit or be transported to a center if they require stabilization support, which will dramatically change the activity currently experienced on this street, particularly emergency ambulatory vehicles. The first DC Stabilization Center on K Street is on a non-residential corridor.

Given the limited space available in this 7,831 sq. ft. building, the number of recliners/beds in the proposed center will likely only be able to serve those in acute need who frequent the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza. It will do little to provide the comprehensive support necessary for the sheer volume of those in need, including those from other parts of the Ward and surrounding communities, which this proposed center would also be expected to serve. (Note: According to DBH, the existing K Street Stabilization and Sobering Center only has 32 recliners/beds available in its 6,400 sq. ft. space). A larger space is needed to get this vital resource to our community right.

Also, public outreach and engagement about this project have yet to happen, though I am told that this is coming next month with a commitment from the Mayor. However, like many other Ward 1 capital projects, public engagement is an afterthought instead of part of the initial thought process. The absence of transparency and clear dialogue from the outset of this project, including the proposed site selection, has left many residents justifiably frustrated and, quite frankly, fed up. The residents of Columbia Heights deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed during the decision-making process, not after, which will be the case since DBH has confirmed that a Request for Proposals is being issued soon for a contractor to complete the buildout.

I have urged the exploration of alternative locations that are better suited to accommodate a sobering center to meet the growing needs we are seeing across the community. I understand the Executive did this for nearly two years before choosing this site. If that is the case, I request the release of information and findings of that exhaustive process.

In short, I am firmly opposed to the proposed Stabilization and Sobering Center on Park Rd. I urge the Executive to reconsider this proposal, fully engage residents at the outset, and work towards a proposal that will prioritize the needs of those who need these services while ensuring the least disruptive impacts on the community.