Central Park discusses cleanups, housing demolition, crime

Central Park Neighborhood Association April 14 discussed cleanups, housing demolition and crime.

Norma Sain, Court Street Village Non Profit Housing Corporation, said she would soon sign paperwork with the city to begin using part of a $93,240 grant to rehabilitate the property at 606 Crapo St. According to Sain, it will take several months for the property title to become available and work to begin. The property will be rehabilitated for a low- or moderate-income family.

"This will keep the Crapo corridor looking good," President Jerry Rule commented.

Properties planned to be demolished include 808 Pierson St., 628 E. Third St. and 628 E. Second St.

The group agreed to ask Wendy Johnson, director of the Department of Community and Economic Development, to complete the necessary documentation required for demolition of these properties so that they can be removed this summer.

A neighborhood and park cleanup originally scheduled for April 30 was changed to May 21 to coincide with the county's collection of hazardous waste. Students from UM-Flint will hold a separate cleanup May 20.

Red Alert, the phone-based crime alert system, was discussed. Officer Kraig Brueck, Mott Community College Police Department, said it was difficult to measure the effectiveness of the system. He suggested a trial run this summer may provide enough information to make a decision.

The project was tabled until a volunteer becomes available to run the test.

Vice President Ed Custer presented the crime statistics from February. He reported three incidents in the 13-block neighborhood.

"There were two domestic incidents and one incident of a resident with a rifle," Custer said.

Members questioned the accuracy of the statistics provided by the city because they said a number of incidents are not reported. Some said that their vehicles had been broken into but they didn't report it. Others said they heard gunshots that they claimed were not reported.

Brueck said all crimes should be reported to city police to make the crime statistics meaningful.

"If you don't report the crime you're not getting a true picture of what's happening in the neighborhood," Brueck said.

In other matters, Custer reported the dangerous intersection at Third Street and North Chavez Drive was reported to the city and state. Work will begin soon to remove obstacles that block a driver's vision.

Flint resident Natalie Pruett's request to put a vegetable garden surrounded by flowerbeds on property on Thomson Street was approved. The Land Bank has an adopt-a-lot agreement with Pruett.

Sgt. Lloyd Nicholson, a MCC policeman, requested permission, which was granted, to survey the neighborhood to find out what kinds of help his department could provide.

The group will meet next at 7 p.m. May 12 at Court Street Village Non Profit Neighborhood House, 727 East St.

–––––––––––––––––––

Your comments are welcome. E-mail them to the editor at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .