NCJ Number
45203
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN TO GUIDE THE ARCHITECTURAL RENOVATION OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX OF MILLVALE IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE APPROACH TAKEN TO EVALUATING THE SECURITY ASPECTS OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES AND OF THE PROPOSED RENOVATION WAS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE. HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE MILLVALE PROJECT, MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, AND GUARDS WERE INTERVIEWED, AND ON-SITE VISITS WERE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT CONTRIBUTED TO CRIME OR MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO FORM THE SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIPS NECESSARY FOR PROTECTING THEIR ENVIRONMENT. FROM THE ANALYSIS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS, TOGETHER WITH SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL, WOULD ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OF CRIME. AMONG THE CHANGES IMPLEMENTED WERE REFURBISHED BUILDING EXTERIORS, ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR LIGHTING, SEVERAL NEW SITTING AREAS AND LARGE AND SMALL PLAYGROUNDS, AND INDIVIDUAL YARDS CREATED BY MOVING SIDEWALKS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE BUILDINGS AND ADDING LOW BRICK WALLS TO SUBDIVIDE FRONT AND REAR YARDS. THE ADDITION OF GABLE ROOFS HELPED TO CONVERT THE BARRACK-LIKE HOUSING INTO ESTHETIC, INDIVIDUALIZED UNITS. A SUBSEQUENT VICTIMIZATION STUDY FOUND THAT APPARENTLY MINOR DESIGN FEATURES CAN SERVE AS MAJOR DETERMINANTS IN THE REDUCTION OF CRIME. THERE WERE FEWER INCIDENCES OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, LESS FEAR OF CRIME, AND FEWER BEHAVIORAL ALTERATIONS DUE TO CRIME IN RENOVATED AREAS THAN IN UNRENOVATED AREAS OF THE PROJECT. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED.