Albany Homeless Shelter Arrives – Assembly Needed

Albany's temporary homeless shelter for the soon-to-evicted residents of the Albany Bulb arrived today, Monday – in four pieces.

The prefabricated sections are being assembled into two modular buildings to hold 15 bunk beds for 30 people, according to the city's plans for clearing the Bulb of its longstanding illegal encampments.

They were placed on the north side Buchanan Street, across the street from the Golden Gate Fields parking lot, about the length of a football field from the entrance to the Waterfront Park and the Bulb.

Patch was alerted to the structures' arrival by Bulb resident Amber Whitson.

There was no word from the city on the estimated date for completion.

Albany City Clerk Nicole Almaguer told Patch on Oct. 24 that the shelter is expected to be ready "within the next few weeks."

The estimated cost of the modular units, not counting the generator, showers and other additions, is $74,000, according the plan presented to the City Council on Oct. 21.

Each of the two buildings appears to be about 36 feet long by 22 feet wide.

The shelter is part of the city's Waterfront Park Transition Plan, in conformance with a series of recent City Council decisions to clear the encampments from the Bulb so that it can become part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. The city also is trying to assist those living on the Bulb find alternative housing.

The shelter is planned to operate for six months.

Background on the Albany Bulb issues

The city's plans to remove the longstanding encampments on the Bulb and turn it over to the Eastshore Park have generated considerable controversy. More information can be found in the many recent news articles and community blog and board posts about the Albany Bulb. Click here for a list of titles and links.