Future of Anne Street Village up in the air following pending funding decisions
SALISBURY, Md. – The City of Salisbury is proposing taking away funding from Anne Street Village, it’s something some community members don’t want to see.
“Let’s make this an attractive place. Make it a place where people want to come, where people that are knocking on the door saying, I need help. That’s the biggest thing you need. Don’t shut the door on them,” said Resident, Dr. Sheila McQuinn.
The future of Anne Street Village is up in the air as the City looks for a new partner to run the Anne Street project. “This follows the city’s grants manager saying there is a need for supplemental funding to complete the Truitt Street Community Center Rehabilitation/Expansion and other projects from funding received from the Community Development Block Grant. That’s $69,000 reallocated to Truitt Street, however, it would be taken from funding for the pallet homes. Salisbury resident Dr. Sheila McQuinn says as homelessness is increasing in the area, the pallet homes don’t have enough resources as it is. “They call tiny homes are actually ultra tiny. The single beds are narrower than crib size and I look at the isolation. Do you see? There is not a living thing anywhere,” said Dr. McQuinn.
Currently, the pallet homes need updates, the city of Salisbury says in part quote “All listed improvements at Anne Street were addressed with alternate funding with the exception of the American Disabilities Act modifications to the restroom and shower units. After researching all options, it was determined that the $50,000 in funding was in no way adequate to address ADA compliance at the site.”
As the search for a partner continues, the city feels as though revisiting the issue would make greater sense. However, City Council President D’Shawn Doughty says “This body does not feel it was right to remove CDBG funding originally allocated for Anne Street Village.”
Dr. McQuinn shares that same sentiment and wants to see the city get it together and better support marginalized communities. “I would like to see them put together, you know, a partnership of there were many people that-that testified that are working with this community. They understand the community. They know what’s needed to make inroads and include them in the decision-making and not be pennywise and pound foolish,” said Dr. McQuinn.
City Council president D’Shawn Doughty has instructed HCDD and the mayor’s office to reconvene and present a concise plan and vision for Anne Street Village moving forward.
We also heard from council member Sharon Dashiell who said “They are working on how best to make the most of Anne Street so that everyone benefits.”
