Gales School Exchange Information Sheet

Gales School Exchange Information Sheet

The property exchange of the Gales School site for Central Union Mission’s Georgia Avenue properties is mutually beneficial to both parties.

The property exchange of the District of Columbia’s Gales School (“the school”) site, located at 65 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, for three adjacent parcels – 3510 Georgia Avenue, 3512 Georgia Avenue, and 714 Newton Place, NW – owned by Central Union Mission (“the Mission”) benefits both the District and the Mission. In allowing the Mission to redevelop the site and operate its services out of a restored Gales School building, the District relieves itself of the responsibility of directing and subsidizing the operations of the shelter while providing a vehicle for the District to achieve its goal of sponsoring mixed-income housing along the Georgia Avenue corridor. Likewise, the Mission values a location that would place its services in greater proximity to the sizable homeless population that would benefit immensely from the Mission’s comprehensive services, as many homeless individuals are still centralized in the downtown area.

The value of the Gales School property is discounted by restrictions governing redevelopment of the site and restoration of the structure.

The Gales School site is 12,000 square feet on which sits the historically designated 25,000 square-foot school building. The $9 million quoted value of the property is misleading, as the historic designation of the school prohibits demolition of the existing structure. The renovation costs that the Mission will incur to restore the building to preservation standards are substantial and would exceed the cost of new construction of a comparably sized facility on the Mission’s Georgia Avenue property.

The assessed value of Central Union Mission’s Georgia Avenue properties exceeds $6 million.

The oft-quoted value of the Mission’s Georgia Avenue properties is the composite of individual 2006 tax assessments for each of the three parcels. This sum is not reflective of a 2008 valuation of the three merged parcels into one 18,500 square-foot plot, the current value of which likely exceeds $6 million. The professional appraisal of 3510 Georgia Avenue alone, obtained last year by the Mission, was $4.9 million. However, the assessed value of the properties is secondary to the tremendous development potential of a large parcel with an appealing floor-to-area ratio (“FAR”) located on a rapidly emerging commercial corridor. Whereas the historic status of the Gales School structure constrains the potential for development on site, no such designation would encumber the demolition of existing structures on the Mission’s Georgia Avenue properties and further redevelopment of the site.

Central Union Mission will invest more than twice the planned District expenditure in restoring the Gales School property.

The $7 million budgeted by the District to renovate the Gales School would have been a minimal investment to construct a facility that meets the needs of the city’s homeless population. Central Union Mission will invest twice that amount to transform the school into a comprehensive service facility that will double the number of beds originally programmed by the District. Despite this significant investment of private capital into the site, the Mission will not profit from the value of the Gales School property for decades, if ever. The real estate contract to be executed between the District and Central Union Mission requires the Mission to operate a shelter at the site for a term of no less than 40 years and proscribes sale of the property by the Mission during this period.

Central Union Mission’s plans for renovation of the Gales School will preserve the architectural integrity of the historic structure.

At considerable cost to itself, the Mission will preserve the historic Gales School structure more authentically than was originally planned by the District. The character of the architecture will be honored through the historically accurate restoration of the building’s façade.

Central Union Mission will offer expanded programs and services to serve the homeless.

The District intended to operate an emergency overnight shelter from the Gales School. In contrast, services provided by Central Union Mission will include on-site counseling and interventions, clothing distribution, medical services, and long-term support programs. The Mission would consider future expansion of its programs and services in the downtown area beyond the Gales School and surrounding NoMA community as part of an overall effort to end homelessness and serve the poor of the District.

Operation of the Gales School shelter by Central Union Mission saves taxpayer dollars.

The District would have subsidized or paid in full a contractor to operate the Gales School shelter at a minimum of $1.5 million annually. The Mission will neither request nor receive operating subsidies from the District, saving taxpayers a minimum of $60 million (in 2008 dollars) over the 40-year term of the contract. Furthermore, no taxpayer dollars will fund the Mission’s programs or services.

Serving Neighbors near Gales School

CENTRAL UNION MISSION TO SERVE FROM GALES SCHOOL
Capitol Hill location aligns best-practice programs and City initiatives to better serve the hurting.
Washington, DC---April 3, 2008--- Central Union Mission, a Christian nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving D.C.’s hurting and homeless population for 124 years, today announced plans to move operations to Gales School at 65 Massachusetts, Avenue, NW Washington, DC. The Gales School location will offer the District’s hurting and homeless population critical access to emergency food, lodging, clothes, counseling services, rehabilitation programs, spiritual development and more.
“The Gales School initiative is an excellent example of what government and the faith-based community can accomplish when they work together,” said David O. Treadwell, Executive Director of Central Union Mission. “Together, the Mission and the City have formed an alliance that will integrate the Mission’s best-practice programs with the District’s ongoing Homeless No More initiatives, and do so in such a way that the interests of the Washington, D.C. community are well served.”
The Gales School initiative is an innovative step that involved the Mayor’s office, Councilmember Jim Graham, community groups and the leadership of Central Union Mission. The months of collaboration among these individuals and groups has resulted in an inventive, but pragmatic way to bring public and private sectors together for the effectual use of public assets and the implementation of programs that enhance service to the community and to those who are hurting.
“For nearly nine years we have looked for a suitable location to minister to the homeless and hurting from the heart of the city,” said Treadwell. “With the opening of the Gales School location we will be in a position to do that very effectively. It’s a win for the City, a win for the Mission and most importantly a win for those who are hurting.”
The Gales School location will house at least 125 beds to provide emergency shelter and rehabilitation services for men. This facility will be owned and operated by Central Union Mission and operate without a District subsidy. Bringing the Gales School property online and operational will require substantial restoration work, the details of which are still being evaluated. An anticipated move in date has been tentatively scheduled for 2009 and will provide an uninterrupted flow of existing Mission services that will coincide with the onset of the cold weather season.
Regular updates regarding the move to Gales School will be provided online at www.missiondc.org.
For more information contact: David Fouse at fouse@pinkstongroup.com or 703.994.4902.
About: Central Union Mission is a Christian nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving D.C.’s hurting and homeless for 124 years with emergency food, lodging, warm clothing, hot meals, and long-term spiritual rehabilitation. The Mission is located at 1350 R St, NW in Washington, DC. For more information about Central Union Mission, please call 202-MISSION or visit the website at www.missiondc.org.

The Washington Post published an letter to the editor from Mr. Treadwell in Saturday's paper. The letter (see below) points out a couple of significant inaccuracies communicated in The Post's coverage of our move.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801915.html

Central Union Mission Isn't 'Cashing In'
Saturday, April 29, 2006; Page A16
The April 20 Metro story "Homeless Shelter Reaps $7 Million: Prime Site in NW Sold to Developer," about Central Union Mission's plan to sell its property at 14th and R streets NW and move to Georgia Avenue, referred to the mission as a "homeless shelter," only mentioning in passing that the mission is much more than that.
The mission distributes nearly $1 million in food each year, more than double its outlays for overnight shelter and long-term rehabilitation support for addicted and troubled men. It runs Camp Bennett for children and a Hispanic ministry. The new facility will be able to accommodate as many as 170 overnight guests, plus 30 residents in a rehabilitation program. The mission's chapel will seat more than 200, and its dining room will accommodate that same number at one sitting. The mission plans to have a medical and dental facility as well as a place for the community to provide job training for men transitioning out of homelessness.
Although 41 percent of the mission's clientele come from Ward 1, the mission also serves people from Virginia, Maryland and other parts of the District. The proximity of the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station and the accessibility of 28 bus lines on Georgia Avenue will help clients get access to services.
The article said that "the mission is coming out a winner because it will pocket enough money to custom design a facility that meets all its needs." This seems to imply that the mission is, as D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), put it, "Cashing in [on a] get-rich-quick scheme."
Although the revenue from the property sale will be of great assistance, the new facility is estimated to cost $15 million, while the property at 14th and R streets will yield $7 million, leaving $8 million to be raised through private donations and grants.
DAVID TREADWELL
Executive Director
Central Union Mission
Washington

Answering the Call: The Relocation of Central Union Mission

Answering the Call:
The Relocation of Central Union Mission


What is Central Union Mission?
Central Union Mission is a faith-based social services agency that has been dedicated to serving hurting and homeless people in DC for 122 years with emergency food, lodging, warm clothing, hot meals, and long-term rehabilitation. The Mission has a long and proud history of successfully helping men, women and families get off the streets and change their lives for the better.
Over the years, our services have evolved with the times. We currently offer:
- emergency shelter, food, and counseling to men in the Overnight Guest Program
- residential rehabilitation through the Men’s Spiritual Transformation Program
- outreach to youth through Camp Bennett, Christmas and Back to School Bags, and partnerships with local youth organizations and churches
- regular grocery support to senior citizens and single-parent families through Food Depot
- various social services to immigrants through the Hispanic Ministry, including English-as-a-Second-Language, food and clothing, health education, and vocational counseling

Central Union Mission is relocating to provide more service to the community
Although Central Union Mission has thrived alongside its neighbors on 14th Street for over 20 years, our current facility is no longer adequate for us to serve our clients to the best of our abilities. Our five-year Strategic Plan calls for the construction of a new facility that will enable us to properly support those we serve.
The proposed facility at 3500 Georgia Avenue affords us an opportunity to expand our services with a state-of-the-art facility, increased service capacity, and a convenient location for our clients.
· Today, 41% of our DC clients live in Ward 1, yet our facility is located in Ward 2.
· Our food and community outreach, our largest programs by far, will be greatly improved with the new location and facility.
· The Georgia Avenue location, conveniently located only 2 blocks from the Petworth Metro Station and serviced by over 28 bus lines, will be far more accessible to those we serve, including senior citizens, single parents, and children.
With the new facility, we will also be able to expand our programs for men. By increasing our bed capacity, we will have additional space to meet some of the overwhelming needs of homeless men in DC as we seek to provide them with emergency shelter and effectual rehabilitation.

The proposed facility will offer:
- Approximately 200 beds for our Overnight Guest program and residential rehabilitation program, the Spiritual Transformation Program (STP). Up to 170 will be allocated for overnighters in the beginning, but as the growth of STP is our priority, these will shift to support this program in time.
- A day room for Overnight Guests who cannot leave our facility during daytime hours
- A 200-person capacity chapel for events and distribution of food and other goods
- A 200-person capacity dining room
- Free community medical and dental clinic
- Street-level café training men in the food service business

The proposed facility can decrease crime and vagrancy in the Georgia Avenue neighborhood
The need for shelter services for transient men is extremely high in the District of Columbia, and Central Union Mission is therefore seeking to meet that immediate need by increasing the beds available. It will take time for us to build our reputation, meaning that the area will not immediately service 170 men.
Our long-term plan is to transition these beds from serving the overnight guests to supporting growth in our residential STP. Eventually, we want to primarily work on restoring men to healing and wholeness, but we realize that building a program such as this takes time and space. The proposed facility will offer these.
In the meantime, we will provide care for individuals who are unable to leave our facility during the day (those who are elderly, or mentally or physically ill) and work to find permanent, appropriate care for them with other service providers.

The Mission is a good neighbor and addresses community concerns
Our Good Neighbor Plan
Central Union Mission cares deeply about working to build up its community. We are committed to being good neighbors. Community members concerned about the economic and civic implications of Central Union Mission’s arrival to their neighborhood should keep these facts in mind:
14th Street has revitalized all around us as we have consistently provided services to homeless and needy members of the DC area for over 20 years from this location.
Property values have skyrocketed and numerous successful businesses have opened in our current neighborhood, even on the properties adjoining our facility. Our presence has not hindered economic growth, but rather helped create a safer, more secure neighborhood by addressing the needs of the community
We bring security to the neighborhood because those who live with us are "locked in" at night. When a man enters our building at 4:00 p.m. as our guest, he does not leave until after breakfast the next morning.
Our supervisors remain attentive to the activity in and around our facility day and night and quickly report any suspicious activity in the neighborhood to the police. Over the years we have become well aware of the dangers of working with troubled men, but we also believe it is worthy work which we strive to do with excellence.
Our men look on us as they would a church and behave accordingly. Those who are unable to treat our facility and programs with respect are asked to leave.
Individuals who choose not to abide by our operational procedures are not allowed to receive our services. Our policies are well known by the homeless in the community, so they choose note to come to us if they won’t comply with it. Some men simply need a place to “sleep it off,” which we provide. Others who are openly belligerent are removed by the police.
Central Union Mission is committed to establishing and maintaining open lines of communication with our new neighbors as we have with our neighbors on and around 14th Street. All who are interested in visiting our current facility, learning more about our operational procedures, and speaking with our Executive Director are welcome to do so. To arrange a meeting, please contact our Community Liaison, Brittany Noetzel at 202-MISSION.

Announcing Future Relocation

For Immediate Release
For information contact:
Brittany Noetzel
Office: (202) 745-7118 x255
Mobile: (202) 438-2803

CENTRAL UNION MISSION ANNOUNCES
RELOCATION TO PETWORTH

District’s Oldest Social Services Agency to Increase Services

Washington, DC. --- April 20, 2006 --- Central Union Mission announced Wednesday its plans to sell its current building at 14th and R Streets in Northwest Washington. The sale is the first step in a plan to relocate to a new, state-of-the-art facility on Georgia Avenue in the Petworth neighborhood. The move is seen as an opportunity to improve and increase services to low-income residents throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.

“We see this as a wonderful opportunity to increase our services to the neediest families and individuals in our area,” said David Treadwell, Executive Director for Central Union Mission. “As a result of this move, we will be able to provide the community with the highest-quality services possible.”

The Mission provides a holistic approach to meeting the needs of families, children, men and women. The new community center will serve as the heart of this service to the community. The Mission’s services to homeless and addicted men through overnight shelter and long-term rehabilitation programs reflect only a portion of its overall work. Other services include English-as-a-Second-Language classes and providing basic necessities to immigrant families. There is also emergency grocery assistance to senior citizens and working single parents, clothing and furniture distribution, and a camp and outreach to children.

These programs will be greatly improved with the construction of a new facility. Currently guests have to eat in shifts or hurry through cramped spaces during their visits to the Mission due to space constraints. There are also plans to open a café at the new location which will serve the community as well as providing job training opportunities for men in the Mission’s rehabilitation program. A new dental clinic will also be opened.

Total costs of the new facility are estimated to be up to $15 million. With the sale of the 14th and R property, nearly half of the needed funds will be in hand. Central Union Mission does not take government funding for its efforts. It relies on donations from supporters in the Washington, DC area for operational funding, and for the remainder of the building costs.

“The Mission’s long-range plan has been for us to expand our services and our facility,” said Treadwell. “We have been planning for this opportunity for more than five years. It is exciting to see this opportunity moving forward in a way that will allow the Mission to serve people desperately in need.”

The Mission currently serves families and individuals from all over the Metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia, and the move to Petworth retains a central location supported well by public transportation.

Central Union Mission is a Christian nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving D.C.’s hurting and homeless for 122 years with emergency food, lodging, warm clothing, hot meals, and long-term spiritual rehabilitation. The Mission is located at 1350 R St, NW in Washington, DC.
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Mission Statement

To glorify God through proclaiming and teaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, developing disciples, and serving the needs of hurting people throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.