Zoning Issues
(scroll down to see visual comparison of shelter zoning maps)

  • There are no emergency shelters in a low-density R1/2A neighborhood in the city of Minneapolis, outside of this proposal. Emergency shelters in Minneapolis are in mixed zoning areas. The proposed Gordon Center shelter is not next to any such commercially zoned property and is squarely within low-income, BIPOC residential homes, in the center of a children's park; however, this shelter will not allow for families or children. 
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  •  The shelter works against the city’s and the community’s 2040 zoning goals for the Penn corridor. The future zoning goals are diametrically opposed to this proposal, as is the Hennepin County commissions’ own statements supporting the 2040 zoning goals. This shelter does not comply with current or future community-identified needs as cited in Penn corridor community-solicited feedback or the County's own recommendations.  
 
  • This short-term, high-volume crisis shelter will be closed during the day, making its clients leave each morning to enter a residential neighborhood with no coffee shop, public library, grocery store, or social space within walking distance. There is not a place to buy food or water, or a public restroom, within walking distance. There is not a heated public building within walking distance. This does nothing to serve the critical clients' daily needs. 
 
  • The proposed shelter is considered “high-capacity”, and will serve as a city-wide shelter. Despite claims that this will be for women of color, that is not possible to carry out under current privacy, discrimination, and equal opportunity laws. Adult Shelter Connect, the emergency shelter servicing organization used by all providers, cannot verify or "check" race over the phone. If a white woman calls in for shelter, she cannot be denied. This shelter will centralize displaced women from greater Hennepin County on the Northside, not serve Black women specifically. On the Northside, much of our housing needs are around women that have children, not a population served by the proposed Gordon site.
Proposed Gordon Center / Willard Hay (50 beds, women): 1616 Queen Ave. North
Zoned: R1A - Single Family District
Adjacent Zoning: R1A - Single Family District​

All Other Single Adult Emergency Shelters
 in Hennepin County: Zoning Maps 
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​Our Saviors (64 men and women): 2219 Chicago
Zoned: OR2 - high density office residence
 Adjacent zoning: OR3 and R2B - Institutional Office Residence, two family district
​Simpson Housing (40 men and women): 2740 1st Ave. South
​Zoned: R2B - two family district
Adjacent zoning: C2 and C3A - Neighborhood Corridor Commercial, Community Activity
​St. Stephen’s (44 men): 2211 Clinton Ave. S
Zoned: R4 - multiple family (medium density)
Adjacent zoning: OR3, C4 and C2- Institutional Office Residence, Neighborhood and General Commercial
Salvation Harbor Lights (394 men and women): 1010 Currie
Zoned: B4C1 - Downtown Commercial District
​Adjacent zoning: B4C1​
​Catholic Charities Higher Ground (250 men): 165 Glenwood
​Zoned: C3A - Community Activity Center
Adjacent zoning: C3A
​St. Stephen’s First Covenant (50 adult partners): 810 South 7th St.
Zoned: B4N - Downtown commercial district
​Adjacent zoning - B4N

​Women-Only Shelters in Hennepin County

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St. Ann’s Place (16 families): 2634 Russell Ave. North
​Zoned: R1A - Residential
Adjacent Zoning: C2, OR2 - Neighborhood Corridor Commercial District, High Density Office Residence
Ascension Place (34 rooms / up to 70 women): 1803 N. Bryant
​Zoned: R2B - Two Family District
Adjacent Zoning: C1, C3S - Neighborhood Commercial, Community Shopping District
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​Proposed Gordon Center / Willard Hay (50 beds, women): 1616 Queen Ave. North 
Zoned: R1A - Single Family District
Adjacent Zoning: R1A - Single Family District
the only shelter that is zoned R1A and surrounded by R1A