PWC Homeless Shelter Project's Environmental Analysis Finds 'No Significant Impact'

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Prince William County is taking a new step forward with the homeless shelter project in the eastern part of the county.

The Homeless Navigation Center East project seeks to demolish the county-owned building at 14716 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA, and construct a new emergency shelter for up to 50 people. The center will continue to have a drop-in center and offer support services to people experiencing homelessness.

The current 14716 Potomac Mills Road building was the location of the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center and is now being used as a hypothermia shelter from Nov. 1 to March 31. The drop-in center has temporarily relocated to the Ferlazzo Building, at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA. The county's capital improvement program indicates the project will have permitting and construction bidding through January 2025, construction from April 2025 to December 2026 and opening in January 2027.

The county government said an environmental analysis found "no significant impact" of the Homeless Navigation Center East project to the environment. Federal funding will be sought to partially fund the project.

A notice on the project's environmental analysis said the county is not required to release an environmental impact statement due to the "no significant impact" finding, according to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Residents may request copies of the environmental review records by contacting Anup Adhikari, principal engineer – facilities construction management, at AAdhikari@pwcgov.org or 703-792-6894. Files are available at Prince William County Facilities Construction Management, 9517 Innovation Dr. Manassas, VA 20110on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The county plans to request federal funding for the Homeless Navigation Center East project. With an estimated project cost of $26.25 million, the county will seek a $2 million Community Project Funding federal grant.

Comments will be accepted through Nov. 26 on the environmental analysis finding and intention to seek a federal grant. Residents may email Anup Adhikari at AAdhikari@pwcgov.org or mail to Prince William County Facilities Construction Management, 9517 Innovation Drive, Manassas, VA 20110.