The Salvation Army pledged to Colorado Springs residents and business owners never to reopen its emergency warming shelter facility after complaints that it became an unsanitary blight and an unsafe nuisance when last open.
But the Gazette reports the Downtown Review Board has voted to allow the charitable organization to reopen the shelter through April 30 whenever overnight temperatures are forecast to dip to 38 degrees or colder.
Salvation Army spokeswoman Jeane Turner says several changes have been made to address residents' concerns, including added security cameras and a security firm, and a change in operating hours. The facility's hours were extended — now 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. — to avoid scores of people flooding the area around rush hour.
The facility can accommodate up to 150 people a night.
