LH Press Library
Two Apartment Complexes Ordered to Clean up Crime
Northeast Dallas: Sites have until May 15 to draft prevention plans
The Dallas Morning News, by Wendy Hundley
May 6, 2006
Two northeast Dallas apartment complexes, where two murders and numerous assaults and burglaries have been reported over the past year, have until May 15 to draft crime prevention plans.
Those orders come from the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, a state-mandated entity that helped finance Bent Creek and Creekwood Village apartments.
"We're going to make every effort to comply," said John Ben Blanchard, an attorney for the American Housing Foundation, an Amarillo nonprofit corporation that owns the apartments.
The report also noted that some measures have already been taken at the complexes. The report noted that Bent Creek has a 47 percent occupancy rate as a result of evictions for criminal activity.
"There's nothing that can be done to stop crime completely," Mr. Blanchard said. "However, we believe the steps we have taken will keep undesirable elements out of the complexes and provide a safe and secure environment for our tenants."
The reports found new security measures at both complexes.
Creekwood Village, in the 10000 block of Audelia Road, has hired 24-hour courtesy officers, trimmed trees for better visibility, installed lighting and mandated parking permits for residents and guests.
Over the past year, almost 200 crimes, including one murder, have been reported at the complex.
"Due to the volume of complaints received from the neighborhood and the large amount of severe crime at the community in the past, it is incumbent upon the owner to establish a long-term Crime Prevention Plan for Creekwood Village," the report stated.
The same language was used for Bent Creek, in the 9700 block of Forest Lane. More than 100 crimes, including one murder, were reported by Dallas police at that site in the last 12 months.
This year, more than $80,000 has been spent to trim trees, install speed bumps and lighting, remove carports and make other improvements at Bent Creek.
The property has also eliminated a walk-through gate and established 24-hour guards at one entrance. ID cards must be shown to gain access to the property, and a log is kept of all incoming guests and residents.
"Within the past quarter, the manager has evicted approximately 100 families in an effort to stop the crime problems that were occurring on the property," the report stated.
The plans, if implemented and monitored, could be effective, said Steve Wakefield, president of the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association, the group that filed a complaint with affordable housing authorities.
"Security by itself if not going solve the whole problem," Mr. Wakefield said. "They've got to have effective background checks on tenants and house rules that are effective and enforced."
The Lake Highlands advocacy group has criticized the apartments for consuming police resources but not contributing to the tax base.
American Housing purchased Bent Creek and Creekwood Village four years ago when organizations that provided low-cost housing were granted tax-exempt status. In lieu of paying property taxes, the foundation signed an agreement to pay an amount equal to 25 percent of the property taxes to local taxing entities.
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