[CONEY ISLAND] City to unveil Coney Island homeless shelter proposal at meeting tonight

See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

By Caroline Spivack

Brooklyn Daily

The city will host a meeting tonight about a controversial homeless shelter planned for Neptune Avenue.

Shelter operator Women in Need aims to open housing for the destitute between W. 22nd and W. 23rd streets, but neither it nor the city are providing any further details. Officials organized tonight’s meeting after outraged residents demanded an info session — and the long-overdue town hall may get raucous, one community leader said.

“If history dictates, it’s not going to be a fun meeting,” said Eddie Mark, district manger of Community Board 13. “If the city and Women in Need reached out and let people know what was going on this wouldn’t have to happen. But it’s more about respecting the residents by taking the time to lay it all out — and to listen to people’s concerns. Ultimately they need to meet people halfway.”

The city has yet to okay the plan. Locals say the proposed shelter would be too close to an area school and park.

The upcoming meeting will include reps from the city’s Department of Homeless services and former city council speaker Christine Quinn — who runs Women In Need.

Homeless shelter meeting at PS 329 [2929 W. 30th Street between Mermaid and Surf avenues in Coney Island, (718) 266–3001]. Dec. 8, 6–8 pm.

Reach reporter Caroline Spivack at cspivack@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260–2523. Follow her on Twitter @carolinespivack.

Comment on this story.

[CONEY ISLAND] City to unveil Coney Island homeless shelter proposal at meeting tonight : Brooklyn Daily