Shelter ready for move to Queen Anne church

By Matthew Rodriguez
Seattle Times staff reporter

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

The shelter's move is part of a 90-day lease between the shelter's management and the church. The agreement was signed Friday and is scheduled to end Nov. 16, city officials said.

Queen Anne community leaders had previously questioned the move, citing short notice from officials and voicing concerns that the shelter could stay longer than 90 days.

Bryce Seidl, president and chief executive officer of the Pacific Science Center, said his organization was initially concerned about people loitering outside the shelter, which opens at 9:45 p.m. and closes at 7 a.m.

"If it all works as anticipated, it should be just fine," he said. "Our concerns were heard and were well-considered. I just hope that it does run smoothly. The community has got to provide these services."

Seidl said he received word of the agreement yesterday in a phone call from Al Poole, manager of the Survival Services Unit of the Seattle Human Services Department.

The shelter will be run by the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC).

Poole said the community would be informed at the start of any talks about an extension of the lease.

"It would be up to the church to indicate that there was a possibility of a lease extension," he said

Larry Pomada, pastoral assistant for administration at Sacred Heart Church, said the church would only consider extending the lease if it had community support.

Matthew Rodriguez: 206-464-3192 or mrodriguez@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More local news headlines...