PORTLAND, Oregon — Six weeks after a Pearl District homeless shelter opened to considerable push-back from neighbors, some of its most outspoken critics are now praising the city for its efforts.

Among the former critics are Todd Zarnitz, president of the Northwest District Association. He helped lead efforts to try and stop the shelter from opening near Northwest 15th and Northrup Street last summer.

"(Businesses) are just going to turn off the lights and we're going to see a destabilized community and that's a very real fear," Zarnitz told KGW in June.

On Tuesday, exactly six weeks after the shelter opened, Zarnitz shared a different perspective lined with cautious optimism.

"I think right now we're seeing good things and we want that to continue," said Zarnitz. "I've been very criti

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