Residents of the Pacific Dean Annex shelter on Dean and Pacific Streets between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues were advised Monday, December 7 that the facility would close permanently on January 15 and begin demolition shortly thereafter as part of the Atlantic Yards project.

Shelter operators and NYC DHS are working to find permanent housing for the 88 families that currently occupy the shelter. Families unable to find permanent housing by January 15 will be transferred to another shelter. According to shelter officials, no relocation assistance is being provided to families by the developer.

The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council has established a fund to accept donations for relocation assistance to the shelter families. PHNDC will work with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to distribute all money raised to needy families. Community members can donate using this online form. When completing the form, please indicate you’d like your donation to be used for the “Pacific Dean Shelter Family Relocation Fund”. Donations are tax deductible.

The shelter (buildings in foreground of picture) is one of the last structures on block 1129 in the Atlantic Yards footprint. The block is part of the project's phase 2 site, where the start of construction is uncertain, but is likely years or decades away. In the meantime, the block will be used for construction staging, and, eventually, a massive surface parking lot for the Barclays Center arena.

(Photo by Tracy Collins)