 VRE succeeded in purchasing the land, and began using it to store passenger coaches.Ivy City residents discovered in September 2003 that the District government intended to establish a homeless shelter at a warehouse at 1355–1357 New York Avenue NE.The move came about as the city announced the closure of its existing homeless shelter in the Gales School, a closed elementary school at 65 Massachusetts Avenue NW, in order to establish a center for abused children there.