Near Northwest Super Block Offers Plan to Reduce Crime

The Near Northwest Management District (NNMD) has launched a new initiative to improve and revitalize apartment complexes in the area. The District recognizes that large apartment complexes in the District have experienced significant problems with crime, which in turn affect businesses, schools and residential neighborhoods. Projects such as the Gang Task Force and Graffiti Abatement programs have helped to reduce crime in the area, but the District says more efforts are needed. A plan has been developed that will cluster apartment properties located close enough to each other to share a common interest in working together to solve problems. These clusters will be called Super Blocks.

The Hollyview Apartments in Super Block One

For advice on organizing a revitalization project, the District contacted Ruth Hurst, president of the New Braeswood Revitalization Association. The organization has become well known for its efforts to work with the police and apartment complexes in southwest Houston on the problems of gangs and crime. (See story at www.NearNorthwestHouston.com/article34). At a meeting with apartment managers and owners at the NNMD office in March, Mrs. Hurst stressed the importance of reporting crimes in and around the complexes and calling 311 to report city code violators. She told the group that her organization uses environmental design such as lighting, fencing, and landscaping to reduce the incidence and fear of crime.

Ruth Hurst, center, meets with the new Super Block One organization at the Near Northwest Management district offices

The NNMD envisions the Super Block as a forum for nearby residents and stakeholders such as the Police Dept., homeowner associations, schools, churches and businesses. The Super Block apartment owners sign an agreement that they will meet the District's guideline requirements to provide a safe and secure place for their residents to live. They will also commit to provide programs and services for their residents based upon need. Super Block organizer and apartment owner Tom Miller says, "This program is both unique and complex. It addresses crime; will provide programs with and through the community for kids and others; has property owners working together that are normally competing against each other for a limited base of residents; and it works with and through the Management District, the HPD, and other groups including the homeowners groups, and our Super Neighborhood organization."

The initial program, called Super Block One, includes a cluster of apartment properties in a three block area along the Antoine corridor. It will consist of nine complexes with a total of 3,189 units. With a Super Block designation, an apartment complex can display and advertise the Super Block symbol for Zero Tolerance for Drugs and participate in the planned joint programs and promotions.

Some of the specific commitments the Super Block properties will make are:

1) to attend monthly PIP and security meetings

2) to support Crime Stoppers

3) to screen for felons

4) to use Crime Tracker

5) to provide after school activities for children

6) to sponsor or work with organizations to provide support programs for children, single parents, and young adults in their apartment complexes

The NNMD's resolution on the Super Block concept states: "Reversing the trend of failing and foreclosed apartment properties with high crime in an area starts with the recognition that major change is needed in order to bring a better quality of life to the area's apartment residents. For the Super Block owners, this is not just an idealized "dream." Improving and revitalizing Super Block apartment complexes is essential to the financial success of the properties, which in turn is essential to building safe, quality, and affordable apartment neighborhoods."

 www.nearnorthwestdistrict.com