Residents in Denver’s Overland neighborhood are beginning to face their fears as construction trucks have been stationed on a plot of land off 2301 South Santa Fe Drive, which is near their homes. The concerns revolve around the proximity of a micro-community site to their residences.
Elmer Dever expressed, “Our neighborhood may not be large, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that we also have emotions. No one truly knows their true intentions and actions.”
Over the weekend, the official announcement was made to the residents about the now-confirmed location, which will be one of the city’s initial micro-community sites under Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s homelessness housing initiative. Despite previous town hall meetings where the mayor discussed the potential use of the land on Santa Fe Drive, owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the residents of Overland neighborhood expressed feeling caught off guard as this site was chosen to be the first to begin development.
Estancia Montoya, a nearby resident of the site, expressed her frustration by questioning, “Why don’t we take a moment to sit down and revisit our plans, exploring alternative options?”
Just this week, a stabbing took place at the Comfort Inn location on 4685 Quebec St., a city-owned hotel converted into a homeless shelter. Montoya, who has also worked at a homeless shelter in the past, says incidents like that one worry her about what safety could look like at a micro-community site so close to existing residents.
She stated that she had witnessed a situation where someone was being raped in a facility that accommodated around 80 people, with approximately 60 rooms. She had also been involved in calling for help during several fights, which made her aware of the risks associated with a community residing in a larger building. Therefore, she believed that residing in a residential area would be even more perilous.
City leaders have stated their plans to install fences and have a staff of 24 on site at this and other micro-community site locations. Nevertheless, residents have voiced their apprehensions regarding the potential consequences if individuals experiencing homelessness venture beyond the designated areas or if this initiative attracts further encampments to the vicinity.
Briane Montoya stated that unless it is an absolute emergency, the police take a considerable amount of time to respond to this area.
By the end of the year, approximately 120 individuals will be accommodated on the micro-community site, which adopts a “low barrier” approach that does not necessitate sobriety for housing.
Estancia expressed that if the establishment were a sober living home, it would create a more inviting environment for the neighborhood. However, with the current plans to accommodate approximately 100 individuals who are not in recovery, Estancia raised concerns about potential drug-related activities. Specifically, the presence of around 50 people who are using drugs could attract drug dealers to the area for illicit sales.
As of the time of publication, CBS News Colorado has reached out to the mayor’s office for additional comment regarding concerns about future micro-community sites, particularly in light of the recent stabbing incident at a hotel shelter. However, they have not received a response yet.
