FARGO – A packed room at Fargo City Hall gathered for a town hall regarding a potential move of the Downtown Engagement Center.
“This really was a meeting tonight to kind of get (an idea) what neighborhoods don’t want it in their space, or what don’t you want,” Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney said. “With the Gladys Ray, we had a meeting with the neighborhood, and people told us what they wanted or didn’t want.”
Several people spoke out questioning why the Downtown Engagement Center would be necessitated to move.
“I want the best thing to happen for this population that is being served,” resident Christopher Coen said. “And so it’s really important if you relocate it to get the best location.”
The meeting included representatives from several different organizations that serve the homeless population in the region – including Fargo Cass Public Health’s Harm Reduction Center.
Three locations are currently being considered – 610 North University Drive, 720 14th Street North and 2001 1st Avenue North. The sites were developed through ‘a unique and no-cost partnership with consultants from Bloomberg Associates.’
“All three locations come with pros and cons, and I do understand that people are going to have concerns because there are a lot of unknowns out there and a lot of what you heard out there,” Harm Reduction Programs Director at Fargo Cass Public Health.
The first two locations are near the city’s ‘preferred area’ for the relocation of the center, with the third being much further from the preferred area.
Assistant City Administrator Brenda Derrig said the discussion is in its beginning stages – only beginning last week.
“We will be talking to commissioners, and the Mayor, and talking at the meetings and see what direction they want to go,” she said.
No timeline has been established for a potential move – and there’s no word when the next discussion will take place.
