Seattle’s Chinatown International District [CID] is poised to get many new residents. The city of Seattle will open a $66.5 million mega-shelter to accommodate five hundred homeless.
Many Asian leaders are crying foul and accusing the city government is perpetuating “institutional racism.” They say the city uses the Asian community as a dumping ground for the homeless. There are numerous shelters and homeless camps in and near the CID already.
In the southwest corner of the CID, next to a large BMW dealership, there are already two taxpayer-funded Salvation army homeless shelters. These dormitory-style facilities can accommodate up to 270 people. However, the lease held by the Salvation Army was set to expire in November. Their operation in the area had been winding down.
The $66.5 million plan will use city, county, and federal funds to keep the Salvation Army facilities running and develop the surrounding area into a homeless center mega-plex. It will include fifty prefabricated tiny housing units, a parking lot, special parking for RVs, a behavioral mental health facility, and a “sobering center.”
The plan involves using former businesses that were already acquired through eminent domain for the construction of a new overpass. A four-lane road, Airport Way South, will be eliminated to make way.
CHINATOWN FIGHTS BACK: Thursday evening, organizers say more than 1000 people attended PROTEST against @kcexec‘s HOMELESS MEGAPLEX in nearby SODO. #CID residents say elected officials DID NOT consult THEM and STILL trying to RAM this through w/out any public input. #Seattle 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/S7txVzRrNX
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (@choeshow) September 9, 2022
“We’re full!” Frustrations grow over a plan by King County to grow homeless shelter space in Seattle’s CID. In a community where the homelessness crisis continues, residents feel like leaders are just piling on. I asked, “do you feel like city/county doesn’t care?…” @komonews https://t.co/3lZHv6TKYD pic.twitter.com/mk6oAIuLwP
— Paul Rivera (@PaulRiveraNews) September 9, 2022
