CBJ continues search for building to house cold weather emergency shelter

In July, the City and Borough of Juneau informed the public it was considering the purchase of a building to provide space for a cold weather emergency shelter. CBJ solicited letters of interest and details on real property, and received three offers from the owners of the Bill Ray Center, the Driftwood Hotel, and the Breakwater Inn. As the city continues to work out next steps, no decision has been made on the previous applicants and CBJ is reopening the solicitation period.

“This is an open and deliberative process, and we had interest and questions from other building owners and neighborhood representatives. The goal is to make the best decision for the community, balancing a wide array of issues. All potential solutions – including potentially not purchasing a building – should be considered,” City Manager Rorie Watt said.

Letters of interest and details on real property are due by 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Wednesday, August 26. The acquisition of property must meet standards in CBJ code (53.04.020) and have a price that does not exceed fair market value. For intended use as a cold weather shelter, desired properties should include the following:

• Flexible room space capable of housing 30-50 individuals in a congregate or non-congregate manner; dormitory spacing that meets public health standards or single room spaces;
• Adequate amenities, including ADA accessible bathrooms and showers;
• Open reception or entry areas; and
• Indoor storage for supplies and guest items.

Interested parties are asked to submit a letter of interest and include the following property details for consideration: address, assessor’s tax parcel number, current owner of record, name of property, brief description, current use and zoning, assessed value, and date of last appraisal.

Again, letters of interest and property details are due by 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Wednesday, August 26. Details can be sent to Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor, City and Borough of Juneau, 155 S. Seward Street Juneau, Alaska 99801 or emailed to [email protected].

For more information, contact Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor at 586-0220 or [email protected].