People are moving in to a new city-sponsored homeless encampment in Ballard this weekend.
It stirred up a lot of controversy in the community this past year, but the new residents are asking their neighbors to give the project a chance.
"It takes a little adjustment for everybody and in the long run they'll see that we're good neighbors and we do the right thing," said Steve Friberg, an organizer of the new camp, which will eventually shelter roughly 50 people.
Dozens of volunteers showed up, Saturday, to build wooden tent platforms. They also helped move belongings into a row of shacks.
"I'm hoping to see a happy, well-established little community here, and hopefully get people the structures they need in order to make it through the winter out here," said Hillary Willis, a volunteer.
Not everyone shares her optimism. The city heard a lot of resistance from neighbors this past year during an extensive public process, but the city council approved the creation of the Ballard camp and two others.
