Reservoir Hill Improvement Council


Advocates Circle
Public Safety Work Group

LIGHTING UP RESERVOIR HILL
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY

Reservoir Hill has a long-standing problem with open air drug markets, buildings used for drug sales, and the crimes that tend to crop up in such environments.  This environment creates a general feeling of lack of safety in walking the streets.

The poor lighting or lack of lighting in many areas of Reservoir Hill comes up frequently in community meetings as a source of deep concern.

Strategy

In recent years historic lighting has been added to many blocks in the southeast quadrant of Reservoir Hill, and more are scheduled to come to blocks on the western side of Reservoir Hill.  While these improvements were valuable they left many areas of the community without a plan for similar lighting improvements.

The Public Safety Work Group will work with community volunteers to assess lighting needs throughout the community and advance a proposal for community-wide improvements in pedestrian lighting.  Click here for a copy of the survey form

The survey will identify blocks where tree trimming needs to be done to improve lighting, and poorly lit blocks, including where no pedestrian lighting exists or where it is very poor.

The Proposal

We propose that pedestrian lighting (i.e., sidewalk lighting) be installed on all blocks of Reservoir Hill and that alley lighting be improved.  Eventually, we see the replacement of the Cobra lights designed as street lighting with the proposed pedestrian lighting.

Trimming trees where branches diminish the effect of current lighting should be part of these improvements.

Relationship to Other Work

Though this is a stand alone proposal the work group does not consider the proposal to be in isolation of other needs. The work group is also developing a proposal for a police substation in Reservoir Hill to increase a police presence that knows the community well and patrols it on foot.

In addition, RHIC work to reduce the number of vacant houses and residents in those houses will help increase the number of eyes on the streets and the number of people making positive improvements in the community.  In that light, this too is a public safety strategy.

Reservoir Hill Improvement Council


Advocates Circle
Public Safety Work Group

MORE POLICE WALKING THE COMMUNITY
WHO KNOW THE COMMUNITY

The strategy of the Public Safety Work Group is to increase the presence of police officers in the community who will know the community, including who the dealers are and who the innocent residents are.  Such officers would patrol on foot and who have Reservoir Hill as their beat for an extended period of time.

We believe that this approach will help build communication and trust between the police and the diverse sectors of the Reservoir Hill population, and will allow officers to have confidence in targeting the problem elements in the community.

The Proposal

We propose that a police sub-station be established in Reservoir Hill, manned by a set of officers who will patrol Reservoir Hill as their beat.  While the substation may not be permanent we do see it as a long-term project.

The location of the substation may end up being a pragmatic decision, but we favor a strategic location central to the community and with sufficient visibility to be an evident aspect of the community.

We understand that the Madison Park North apartment complex fronting on North Avenue may have space available.  The Madison Park North complex has been a center for movement of drugs in the community, which makes it a good candidate for the substation.  The availability of space in the complex probably makes it the best immediate location for a substation, but renovation planned in other parts of the community may allow for a strategic location elsewhere in the future.

Relationship to Other Work

Though this is a stand alone proposal the work group does not consider the proposal to be in isolation of other needs. The work group is also developing a proposal for pedestrian lighting throughout Reservoir Hill, coupled with strategic tree trimming to increase pedestrian safety.

In addition, RHIC’s work to reduce the number of vacant houses and residents in those houses will help increase the number of eyes on the streets and the number of people making positive improvements in the community.  In that light, this too is a public safety strategy.

To help with the Public Safety Work Group, call 410.225.7547