SITE OVERVIEW ♦ FLINT | MICHIGAN
Target Area: University Avenue Corridor • Population: 6,200
Fiscal Agent: Kettering University
Research Partner: Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice
Crime Concerns: Aggravated Assault, robbery, and other violent crimes
BCJI Funding Year: 2014 Planning & Implementation
Neighborhood Profile
The University Avenue Corridor is an approximately two-mile residential and commercial area stretching west of downtown and anchored by some of Flint’s largest employers and institutions. Facing significant socio-economic challenges and population loss, the area reflects challenges experienced by many Flint communities with abandoned and blighted properties and disproportionately high rates of crime. The problem analysis performed by a research team from Michigan State University revealed that the Corridor experienced 1,026 crime incidents in the period between January 2014 and March 2015. Of these incidents, 311 included violent offenses (e.g. robbery and aggravated assault) and 476 included property offenses (e.g. burglary). The University Avenue Corridor Coalition, a cross-sector partnership comprised of residents, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, major institutions and other stakeholders, has been meeting monthly since 2012 to pursue comprehensive responses to these issues.
Planning Process
The BCJI project, “Renew the Avenue,” seeks to promote equity, livability, economic vitality, and sustainable development in and around the Corridor. During the planning phase, the BJCI team identified hotspots including apartment complexes and a park, developing a deeper understanding of patterns of offending and causes of crime through a combination of data analysis and consultation with local residents and stakeholders. One notable finding from the problem analysis was that most crimes in the area are perpetrated by adults, contrary to perceptions that youth are responsible for a significant amount of crime. The planning process helped shape selection of implementation strategies that aim to address problems in hot spots while enhancing safety and quality of life in the overall neighborhood. Priorities include reducing incidents of violent and property crime, increasing community participation and decreasing blight that facilitates crime.
Implementation Strategies
The Flint team has identified a range of strategies to address specific crime issues. For example, they are tackling residential burglaries through a combination of offender targeting, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies and neighbor education. The team has also identified several overarching strategies that they are incorporating throughout their work. These include:
- Technology, capitalizing on opportunities presented by Flint’s participation in US Ignite which will bring high speed network connectivity throughout the city. Through Kettering University, the Flint team will explore how this could enhance crime control such as through surveillance cameras that link to campus security and Flint Police patrol cars, or ‘smart lighting’ technology to control traffic lights and public lighting.
- Urban Safety Corps, an award of 10 AmeriCorps members to serve in the city who will contribute to BCJI by training smaller project teams and assisting law enforcement with the recruitment of residents to staff community centers administered by police.
- Youth Involvement Activities, organized to provide children under 14 with educational and recreational activities and Safe Routes to School, and youth ages 15 to 24 with programs that prevent delinquency and school dropout. Flint Police are also seeking to enhance youth relationships through events and programs.
- Community Engagement, emphasizing resident involvement in neighborhood improvement projects, crime reporting and other collaboration with police. Examples of community engagement events have included a school supply neighborhood fest and trainings and resources to help people learn how to work with vacant lots with sample design plans, cost analysis and profiles of the work involved in revitalizing properties.
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