Talbot House Ministries, which serves people who are homeless in Polk County, has submitted new plans to relocate out of downtown Lakeland.
Like before, the proposed site is on East Memorial Boulevard.
Also, like before, it has drawn criticism from people who live and work nearby.
Talbot House Ministries has provided training, meals, overnight housing, and more to people who are homeless for 46 years on North Kentucky Avenue.
Earlier this year, Talbot House Ministries withdrew its application to relocate to 1115 East Memorial Boulevard after concerns from the community.
At a recent Lakeland planning and zoning board meeting, it presented new plans for an expanded center at 1005 E. Memorial Blvd.
“Ultimately, they decided to move the location. It seems like a simple move, but to the west, to the corner,” said Tim Campbell, an attorney representing Talbot House Ministries and CFTB Realty. “When they heard the comments, they went back and said, ‘How can we make it better? How can we reduce the impacts even more?
Jonathan Kirk, a principal at Straughn Trout Architects, which designed the proposed site, called Talbot House Ministries a “unique” facility that is an important part of the community.
“What the move fundamentally does is it allows us to reorient some pedestrian pathways, get them closer to existing services,” he said.
Kirk and Campbell said the new design provides ingress and egress on Ingraham Avenue rather than East Memorial Boulevard and addresses concerns about green space.
“There’s not really a lot of public view of that area, and we are going to implement restrictions to make sure that that area does not get overcrowded or overused,” said Campbell.
At the public hearing, community members did not seem convinced the new location would ease their concerns.
“It’s not that we’re rejecting the Talbot House. We just don’t want it in our neighborhood,” said Raydene Read.
“Memorial Boulevard is not the right location, and shifting it one block does not meaningfully change the challenges this area is already dealing with,” said Chanel Bellotto, owner of Skate World.
Like Bellotto, executive pastor Dwayne McDow of Lakes Church previously expressed concern about the site’s proximity to his establishment.
“Our recommendation would be that you not approve it, but again, we will not be adversarial should you approve it. We will be a good neighbor,” said McDow.
Some people told board members that providing a better facility will help in the long run.
“This proposed change will make them be able to minister better and create more positive outcomes for our community,” said Michael Porter, who lives in Lakeland.
“Us moving to Memorial will bring an end to a lot of percentage of what’s going on there because now there’s services for people. There’s hope being given to people,” said Deborah Cozzetti, director of programs at Talbot House Ministries.
City staff will provide a formal recommendation about the site at the planning and zoning board meeting in December.