2006 Award Winners Neighborhood Revitalization
The Barton Street Neighborhood Revitalization Project was formed by the Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation in response to crime problems that persisted in the area, in part due to the fact that Barton Street spans the border of two police precincts-- one in the Pawtucket Police Department and one in the Central Falls Police Department. With neither police department taking the lead in strategically targeting the area, the CDC stepped up and built a strong multi-city and multi-agency partnership to address crime in Barton Street. Evidence of the partners’ commitment includes a neighborhood crime watch (since turned into a full-scale Neighborhood Association), the launch of a Prostitution Diversion Project and the development of $6 million in affordable housing in previously crime-ridden areas. Annual block parties, youth programming, and a community garden have enhanced the work of the CDC-police team and ensured ongoing support and leadership by community residents.
Urban Edge and the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) partnership began with a single building on Morse Street that was ruled by a gang of drug dealers. As the property’s developer and manager, Urban Edge reached out to the BPD to take on the Morse Street situation and the related crime problems in surrounding neighborhoods. Urban Edge and BPD created an outreach system for residents while increasing police enforcement and presence in the area. The partners cleaned up drug houses, drug cruising areas, and vacant lots and empowered Morse Street residents to take back their community. Having since expanded to take on other challenges in Dorchester, the partnership has resulted in the opening of a new police substation in a separate Urban Edge development project and the systematic targeting of crime hotspots surrounding Urban Edge’s Youth Center. Most importantly, however, formal partnerships and methods of communication have been cemented between police agencies, housing managers, resident leaders, and others.
The Fergus Street Homeownership Project (“the Project”) was developed in Cincinnati in a neighborhood struggling with drug sales and other crime, low homeownership rates and a shrinking population. The Project was formed by the Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CNCURC), the Cincinnati Police Department, and other City agencies and community organizations. While CNCURC is a relatively new organization, its staff members have applied their years of experience in housing and community development to integrate public safety partnerships into all of the organization’s activities from day one. With coordination by CNURC, the Police Department used problem-oriented and community-oriented policing styles to stabilize the neighborhood and pave the way for CNCURC to redevelop properties and create long-term community assets. The results of their work include the redevelopment of a particularly problematic corner, known for its open-air drug market, into single-family housing.
The “S” Avenue Model Block Initiative was launched by the Riviera Beach Weed & Seed when the community identified the “S” avenue as an area to turn around and serve as a future “model block.” The lead partners in the Weed & Seed efforts are the Northwest Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Corporation (CRC) and the Riviera Beach Police Department (RBPD). The CRC has committed to redeveloping problem properties and the RBPD has dedicated a Community Police officer to act as a liaison and consultant for safety improvements. The partners have aimed at ridding the area of crime, improving relations with local residents, increasing community participation, and increasing services and resources to community members. The partnership has resulted in the development of two community centers, the establishment of a police substation in the “S” Avenue Model Block, and has paved the way for substantial housing development.
This program is a testament to the 20-year partnership between South Bay Community Services (SBCS) and the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD). Demonstrating its commitment to preventing crime and improving overall neighborhood safety, the CVPD has worked with SBCS around both their domestic violence prevention and housing development activities. The CVPD and SBCS have partnered on projects related to housing for youth aging out of foster care, transitional housing for domestic violence victims and other affordable multi-family developments. Their partnership has gone beyond traditional design conversations to include strategizing on site selection, tenant screening, property manager training and resident organizing. Several SBCS staff members work out of the police department to facilitate greater integration of activities, and greater support to youth and domestic violence victims.
The Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN) Crime Committee represents an ongoing partnership between community residents, affordable housing developers and the Syracuse Police Department. In response to substantial gang- and drug-related crime, SUN members have organized to become catalysts for action in their neighborhood. As part of the SPD’s Neighborhood Anti-Crime Squad, SUN members provide drug intelligence information to police that the SPD uses to shape enforcement strategies. SUN members also help local developers acquire vacant or blighted properties, particularly those that contribute to persistent crime problems. By bringing together local decision-makers and pressing for change, the SUN partnership has achieved successes such as the passage of a number of city ordinances to address nuisance crimes, the conversion of a drug-ridden corner store to a community police substation, and the redevelopment of a dilapidated area formerly identified as “The Crack Trail.” The SPD has demonstrated how much it values the partnership by designating an official police liaison to work with SUN and attend all neighborhood meetings. |
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