In 2024, the Department of Behavioral Health announced the mayor’s intention to open a second DC Stabilization Center (“DCSC”). The new center is slated to be in Columbia Heights at the Old Engine Company No. 11 Firehouse on Park Road. For more information on the project, visit the Department of General Services project webpage here.
The project is located in Single-Member District 1A06, represented by Commissioner Anthony Thomas-Davis. If you have any specific questions or concerns, you can contact him at [email protected] or 202-855-8550. You can also contact your Commission representative by visiting here for Commissioners’ contact information.
Community Engagement Sessions
DBH is conducting a series of community engagements as the renovation progresses.
These meetings allow the opportunity to discuss this stabilization center as a resource for residents with substance use disorders, to listen to community concerns and address questions about the project, and to discuss how we can work together to ensure the facility is compatible with the neighborhood. In addition, the Department of General Services, the District agency managing the building renovation, continually offers available details about the renovation, which is projected to be completed in late 2025. Meetings are either in-person, virtual, or hybrid.
The second community engagement session was held on November 25, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Representatives in attendance included DBH, DGS, and Fire & EMS (“FEMS), Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau. Members of ANC 1A also attended. The meeting recording is available here:
English recording: English Recording.mp4
Spanish recording: Spanish Recording.mp4
The first community engagement session was on May 1, 2024, at Columbia Heights Education Campus (Auditorium), 3101 16th St NW. Attendees included representatives of the DBH, DGS, and Fire & EMS (“FEMS), and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau. Community Bridges, the project manager of the District’s first Stabilization Center, which opened last October, was also present to talk about their experiences and the Center staff. Members of ANC 1A were also in attendance to hear from residents.
What is a Stabilization Center?
DC’s first Stabilization Center opened in October 2023 at 35 K Street NE. The Stabilization Center is a safe place for people experiencing a substance use disorder crisis to get the help they need. Services are provided to those 18 years and older and are free of charge, with no insurance or residency requirements.
The Stabilization Center offers approved medication on the spot, which, when combined with counseling, is effective in treating substance and opioid use disorders and the recovery process. Trained medical staff at the Center conduct medical screenings, and certified peers help residents access the support they need, such as housing, transportation, social services, and other services.
The K Street NE Stabilization Center includes recliners for people staying up to 24 hours and a limited number of beds for those staying up to 72 hours. The Stabilization Center serves as a pathway to long-term recovery by providing referrals and placements into long-term treatment options.
For more information, visit https://dbh.dc.gov/service/dc-stabilization-center.
Where can I find more information on the project?
For Department of General Services (DGS) project details and contact information, visit https://dgs.dc.gov/page/dbh-dc-stabilization-and-sobering-center-renovation-park-rd-facility1-0.
For the latest construction details and planning materials, visit https://dgs.dc.gov/publication/dcam-24-cs-rfp-0009-design-build-services-dc-stabilization-and-sobering-center.
To continually share your input & engage in the renovation process as it continues, please email DBH at [email protected].
When will the Park Rd Stabilization Center open?
Based on the latest information provided by DBH and DGS, the Park Road facility will open in early to mid-2026. Funding has yet to be identified for operating the stabilization center, and a contract has yet to be awarded to a company or organization to run the facility day-to-day following an opening.
How can the community ensure all its concerns are addressed?
ANC 1A will work with District agency stakeholders to develop a “good neighbor agreement,” a formal, binding document outlining expectations and responsibilities between neighbors, including details about noise levels, property maintenance, parking, and other factors that could impact the quality of life. DBH, as the facility’s primary manager, will be a neighbor in this case, and the agreement aims to foster positive interactions and proactively address potential conflicts. The Good Neighbor Agreement will include specific actions the facility will take, commitments from neighbors, an ongoing forum for dialogue, such as ANC 1A, the process for addressing neighborhood complaints, progress reporting, and dispute resolution processes, including procedures for enforceability.
Good Neighbor Agreements have been used extensively as a tool to engage in collaborative problem-solving with communities around issues of land use, housing, and siting for decades, including in the District. The ultimate decision about what being a Good Neighbor means in practice will be up to the community through negotiations with stakeholder representatives. Once negotiations are completed, a Good Neighbor Agreement will be considered “ratified” when at least a majority of stakeholders have signed the final documents – ANC 1A will likely vote on the final agreement. A Good Neighbor Advisory Committee will work toward consensus on identified issues and obtaining signatures from all stakeholders.