SITE OVERVIEW ♦ HUNTINGTON | WEST VIRGINIA
Target Area: District 3 • Population: 2,100
Fiscal Agent: City of Huntington
Research Partner: Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER)
Crime Concerns: Larceny, vandalism, property crimes, and violent crimes
BCJI Funding Year: 2014 Planning
Neighborhood Profile
District 3 has two distinct populations – one of which includes the Marshall University students that live in campus housing in the eastern part of the district and the other includes non-student renters located in the western part of the district. Overall, the target area has a very low median household income with nearly 30 percent of its families living in poverty. While District 3 is the second smallest district in the city, 222 offenses occurred in the district from 2011 to 2013, which is more than double that of the next closest comparable district. During that same period, the target area generated 28 percent of all Part I violent crimes and over 20 percent of all Part I property crimes citywide. Quality of life crimes also pose as a serious problem. Specifically, prostitution has increased over the years with District 3 producing 64 percent of all prostitution crimes citywide.
Planning Process
During their BCJI planning process, BCJI partners designed a plan to reduce and deter crime, provide successful formulas for economic development, and provide the necessary foundation for revitalizing the downtown area into a vibrant and attractive location. The Planning Team guided the process and actively engaged stakeholders to participate and further define the parameters and outcomes of the project. The planning phase lasted from October 2014 through March 2015 and consisted of the following components: planning, community/stakeholder engagement and input activities, data research and analysis, development of a comprehensive, strategic plan, and data collection related to performance measures and sustainability. Several notable collaborative efforts within the city include:
- Continuous development of partnerships to combat the myriad of issues facing Huntington. One partnership in particular enhanced drug prevention strategies. The partnership was spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office of Drug Control Policy and additional partners included members of the Charleston Police Department, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, the Prestera Center, Appalachia HIDTA, the Huntington City Council, and the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership. This is just one of many collaborative efforts within the city.
- The Cabell-Huntington Health Department continued its countywide clean-up and the Huntington Police Department recently hosted “Coffee with a Cop” in an effort to improve relationships and dialogue between officers and business owners.
- Huntington is currently in the midst of competing for America’s Best Communities, a $10 million initiative to stimulate economic revitalization in small towns and cities. Approximately 30 community leaders meet regularly to identify common needs to grow the city and how to best address revitalization.
Other Key Partners
Huntington Police Department, Collective Impact, LLC, the Southern District of WV US Attorney’s Office, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Marshall University
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