Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Crime rate significantly down in the Park Neighborhoods


The crime rate is significantly down in the Park Neighborhoods in 2013 and 2014. The WBIR crimes (including assaults, arson, burglary, homicide, sexual offenses, criminal damage, locked vehicle, car theft and other theft) are 18 percent lower than those in the city overall (108 crimes per 1000 population compared to 131 crimes per 1000 population in Milwaukee overall).
The Park Neighborhoods (or Milwaukee’s Historic South Side on the City planning map) include Lincoln Village, Baran Park, Forest Home Hills, the northwestern tip of Bay View, and the northeastern tip of Polonia. 

2015 sees a shortage of homes for sale in the Park Neighborhoods

Three years ago, there would have been over 40 single-family homes available in the Park Neighborhoods. In October 2014 there were only 12. There were about the same number of multiple-family homes. Three years ago single-family homes were priced between $10,000 and $84,000. Today they are going from $45,000 to $120,000.

What happened?

The economy changed, of course. The home buying crisis is nearly over.
     In addition, many efforts went forward to improve the image of the Park Neighborhoods to prospective homebuyers. Urban Anthropology Inc. (UrbAn) was one organization that worked to change this image. Whenever a home was for sale, UrbAn would drop off binders of information to home sellers that promoted the neighborhood—information such as the local assets, services, recreation facilities, businesses, parks, and more.  In addition, UrbAn worked with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the NIDC to secure grants on neighborhood improvement features. From these grants came public art, over 100 large planters filled with plants and flowers, 35 homes rehabbed, a neighborhood museum, plays and events on neighborhood cultural history, 78 home flower boxes, 14 homes landscaped, gateway sign, new trees for Kosciuszko Park, walking tour of the neighborhood, and more.