Neighborhood Crime Report, 2015 Introduction Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity focuses not only on building homes, but on revitalizing neighborhoods facing blight and disinvestment. This goal is being accomplished by bringing together the elements of: Partnership with neighborhoods, the public sector, the faith community, other nonprofits, and private investors Construction of affordable homes Home repair Blight reduction through acquisition and demolition of nuisance properties Community support and development Advocacy The outcomes of the mission can be measured in a variety of ways that all tend to be correlated with each other: improved property values and conditions, increased market development, higher graduation rates, decreased unemployment rates, greater household income, increased diversity, and reduced crime. This report focuses on Part 1 crimes, which are those serious crimes that law enforcement agencies must report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These crimes may be categorized in two ways: Violent Crimes o Aggravated assault of family or non-family o Rape o Murder o Robbery of an individual or business Property Crimes o Arson o Burglary of a residence or business o Theft from vehicle or other theft o Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (UUMV) Accurate counts of these crimes were obtained from the Dallas Police Department (DPD) for the years 2005-2015 for the crime beats encompassing the following Habitat neighborhoods: Mill City (Beats 311 and 312) Bonton/Ideal (Beats 347 and 348)
Hickory Creek (Beat 356) West Dallas (Beats 422,423, and 424) Oak Cliff Gardens (Beat 726) Joppa (Beat 732) Cedar Creek Ranch (Beat 755) Records management system (RMS) data was obtained for the year 2015, which includes all crimes reported except those protected by law (sexual crimes, family violence, and crimes involving a juvenile). This data was mapped to get approximate counts of Part 1 crimes directly within the selected neighborhoods. Because the census does not provide population data for areas as small as neighborhoods, this report uses parcel data from the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). Each parcel with an improvement (therefore, non-vacant), is used as a type of replacement population unit to approximate a comparison with the citywide rates. The City of Dallas In 2003, Dallas had the worst crime rate among the ten largest cities in the US. From that point, the City began a focused effort to reduce crime and increase public safety, resulting in a 48.9% total reduction in crime since 2005, with violent crime dropping 41.9% and property crime dropping 50.2%. City of Dallas Part 1 Crimes 100000 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Total Violent Total Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
While property crimes continue to fall, decreases in violent crime tapered off after 2011 and has seen increases in 2014 and 2015. Habitat neighborhoods have seen comparable declines in crime since 2005. Decrease in Part 1 Crime, 2005-2015 0.0% -10.0% -20.0% -30.0% -40.0% -50.0% Mill City (311) Mill City (312) Bonton/Ideal (347) Bonton/Ideal (348) Hickory Creek (356) West Dallas (422) West Dallas (423) West Dallas (424) Oak Cliff Gardens (726) Joppa (732) Cedar Creek Ranch (755) City of Dallas -60.0% -70.0% -80.0% -90.0% Several beats have seen a very significant reduction in crime including Bonton/Ideal, Oak Cliff Gardens, and Joppa. Mill City, parts of West Dallas, and Cedar Creek Ranch have seen decreases at a statistically comparable rate to the City of Dallas. Hickory Creek, while showing a lower reduction in crime, began with already low crime rates that continued to decrease despite development and population increase in the area. Beats 422 and 423 of West Dallas have struggled with property crime over the years, but have posted decreases of 48.1% and 66.7% in violent crime respectively both reasonably higher than the City s declines.
Mill City Mill City is the only Habitat neighborhood with crime rates higher than the city of Dallas. It is situated just south of Fair Park in beats 311 and 312. Historically, changing economic patterns, racial segregation, and the deterioration of a public housing development caused major challenges for this community. The neighborhood has seen significant investment from the City of Dallas, Dallas Habitat, Dallas Housing Authority, Inner-City Community Development Corporation (ICDC) and other non-profits. This includes the demolition and redevelopment of the Frazier Courts public housing project. Dallas Habitat entered the neighborhood in 2004 and has built 95 new homes in the neighborhood including 40 homes in the 51 home Frazier Courtyards subdivision, repaired 29 homes through the A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) program, and demolished 12 nuisance properties including two cocktail lounges in the residential community. Despite the investment in this area and decreasing crime rates, there is still a long way to go in terms of crime and safety.
350 300 250 200 150 100 50 Mill City Crime Progression 311 Violent 311 Property 312 Violent 312 Property 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Beats 311 and 312 have seen a drop in violent crime of 30.5% and 48.6%, and a drop in property crime of 55% and 42.1% respectively. This places their overall decline at similar rates to the City of Dallas, at 48.1% and 44.1%. Since 2011, both beats have seen an increase and stabilization of violent crime which may be associated with the similar trend city-wide. Property crimes were plummeting until 2010, where both beats saw an increase and stabilization at a higher rate. 2015 saw another increase in property crimes in both beats. 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Frequency of Crime Types - Mill City Beat 311 Beat 312 Dallas Both beats show that, for violent crimes, this neighborhood has a major problem with both types of aggravated assault and robbery of individuals. Beat 311 quadruples the
proportion of non-family assaults city-wide while 312 nearly tripled the same number. Burglary of residence is, by far, the biggest property crime for the neighborhood, with beat 312 more than doubling the proportion for the same crime city-wide. In 2015, the Mill City neighborhood experienced 360 total crimes, 231 (64.2%) of which were Part 1 offenses. Per occupied parcel, the neighborhood has a crime rate of 24.0%. Most crimes were dispersed fairly evenly throughout the neighborhood, but some areas seemed to draw more crime. Some clusters sit around stores such as TMA Grocery, Beer, and Wine on Metropolitan and 2 nd and Fair Park Grocery on Hamilton and Lagow. Another cluster is located near the Magnolia CME Church on Collins.
Bonton/Ideal The Bonton and Ideal neighborhoods are, by far, the most improved of Habitat s neighborhoods in regards to crime. Located along Highway 175 and Bexar Street, these communities have seen a major community development initiative including the demolition of 682 deteriorated public housing units in the late 2000s, a redevelopment initiative along Bexar Street, and the establishment of Bonton Farms. The rapid depopulation caused by the loss of the public housing units completely changed the neighborhood s economics, physical appearance, and overall feel. Dallas Habitat began working in Bonton in 1996. Since then, the organization has built 154 new houses and repaired 65 owner-occupied homes across the two neighborhoods. 350 300 250 200 Bonton/Ideal Crime Progression 347 Violent 347 Property 348 Violent 348 Property 150 100 50 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Both of these communities, but especially beat 348, have experienced crime reduction at a rapid rate since 2005. Violent crime decreased by 47.8% and property crime by 66.2% in beat 347. Beat 348 experienced even larger changes, with an 80.6% decrease in violent crime
and 75.1% decrease in property crime. Both of these beats are well above the rate of crime reduction citywide. The rapid reduction was likely caused by the depopulation from the demolition of both public housing projects, which paved the way for the communities to maintain low crime. Frequency of Crime Types - Bonton/Ideal 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Beat 347 Beat 348 Dallas In regard to violent crime, both beats have a problem with family assault 3 times that of the proportion for the city. Beat 347 also has a major problem with aggravated assault of a non-family member, accounting for almost 20% of its crimes. Both neighborhoods have problems with other forms of theft not involving violence, threats, burglary, or breaking into vehicles. These types of theft include pickpocketing, bicycle theft, theft of vehicle parts, or theft of other items off the property.
The Bonton and Ideal neighborhoods saw a total of 239 crimes with 117 (49.0%) classified as Part 1. Per occupied parcel, this gives a rate of 11.0%. The bulk of crimes occurred in the Ideal neighborhood, particularly along the renovated portion of the Bexar Street corridor. However, this cluster may be caused by increased traffic or reporting in the area, as most crimes were classified as criminal mischief, or involved reporting traffic accidents. The large cluster of crimes along north-bound 175 is likely a location reporting error for crimes associated with the liquor store and nightclub located across the highway from the neighborhood.
Hickory Creek Hickory Creek makes up a tiny fraction of beat 356. Located just off Highway 175, the start of this neighborhood s construction began just before the housing market crash. This left the neighborhood severely underdeveloped, and many homeowners faced foreclosure on the homes they could no longer afford. As a result, the neighborhood was at risk of becoming a zombie subdivision. Between 2011 and 2012, Dallas Habitat built 81 homes, reducing the number of vacant lots by 64%. Beat 356 Crime Progression 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Total Violent Total Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 For its size and population, crime rates in beat 356 have always been relatively low, therefore it has decreased at a rate slower than the city as a whole. Nevertheless, it has continued to decline despite an increasing population: 30.2% decline in violent crime and 39.5%
in property crime. Property crimes have steadily decreased since 2010 while violent crimes have held steady at what may be the floor for the neighborhood. 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Frequency of Crime Types - Hickory Creek Beat 356 Dallas Much of Hickory Creek s crimes in 2015 fell into line with the city of Dallas. All violent crime categories were especially similar, save for a smaller percentage of robberies. The neighborhood also sees a slight increase in residential burglary, theft, and the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
There were 31 reportable crimes in the Hickory Creek neighborhood, 24 (77.4%) of which were Part 1. Per improved parcel, the crime rate was 14.1%. Many thefts occurred along Creek Crossing Dr. while a string of vehicle crimes followed Caltha Dr. West Dallas
West Dallas makes up a fairly large portion of the city between the Trinity River and I- 30. The area consists of many different neighborhoods. Dallas Habitat works in four different neighborhoods: Los Altos, La Bajada, Los Arboles, and Greenleaf Village. These four neighborhoods are situated within beats 422, 423, and 424. The Greenleaf Village II development does not fall into these beats. These neighborhoods have faced many challenges over the years including environmental contamination from a lead smelter and the deterioration and demolition of a 3,500-unit public housing project. Historically, West Dallas has been one of the city s most underserved communities, but with the recent development of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Trinity Groves, apartments and shopping opportunities under construction, along with new charter schools and recreation opportunities, change is coming to West Dallas. Dallas Habitat built its first home in the Los Altos neighborhood in 1986 and has since built 254 homes and repaired 68 across the four neighborhoods. 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 West Dallas Crime Progression 422 Violent 422 Property 423 Violent 423 Property 424 Violent 424 Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 The West Dallas neighborhoods have seen unique patterns of change in their crime counts over time. Beat 422 has dropped 34.8% of its property crime and 48.1% of its violent crime, resulting in a total decrease in crime of 38.3%. Violent crime in beat 423 has fallen by a significant 66.7% while property crimes have only fallen by 35.8%. This gives a total decrease of 45.6%. Beat 424 has seen the most significant decrease in crime in West Dallas, with a 66.7% drop in violent crime and 48.1% drop in property crimes. Overall, crime in this beat has fallen by 51.3%. Unlike the other neighborhoods, this beat has seen a very stable decrease over time with minor fluctuations. An increase in 2015 may be due to increased development.
Frequency of Crime Types - West Dallas 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Beat 422 Beat 423 Beat 424 Dallas The proportion of crimes in the West Dallas beats falls closely in line with the city s. The largest differences involve beat 422 s higher proportion of family violence and residential burglary. Beat 423 sees fewer burglaries but more thefts of motor vehicles. Beat 424 has a high proportion of businesses, therefore residential burglary is low while burglaries of businesses make up more than 15% of the area s crimes.
Because the West Dallas neighborhoods fall on the often busy Hampton and Singleton roads, the West Dallas heat map is much less self-explanatory. Across all of these neighborhoods, 590 crimes were reported, 360 (61%) of which were Part 1 crimes. This gives Part 1 crimes per improved parcel a rate of 14.2%. The dark red spot at Hampton and Singleton, which represents 74 crime reports, mostly involved vehicles and criminal mischief among the businesses on that corner, but did also include a few instances of robbery. The red spot on Singleton represents a large number of car accidents. The red spot to the east represents car break-ins around Trinity Groves, and the northernmost red patch on Hampton represents mostly minor crimes at two gas stations on Leath St. While Greenleaf Village and Los Arboles saw fewer overall crimes that were not focused at one point, most of these crimes were Part 1 and require attention. The yellow patches throughout Los Altos also saw more serious crimes such as burglaries or assaults.
Oak Cliff Gardens Oak Cliff Gardens is nestled in beat 726 in East Oak Cliff just behind the Veterans Affairs Hospital. Like much of southern Dallas, the neighborhood has been affected by crime, depopulation, deteriorating homes, and crumbling infrastructure. Nevertheless, the area is home to many families and small churches. Dallas Habitat began construction in the neighborhood in 2004, and in 2014 the neighborhood was home to the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Currently, Habitat has built 115 homes, repaired 51 homes, and sponsored the Ryan Family Community Enrichment and Education Program (CEEP) house. 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Beat 726 Crime Progression Total Violent Total Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Crime in the Oak Cliff Gardens area has declined at a rate significantly higher than the city of Dallas. Property crime has declined by 59.4% while violent crime has fallen by 58.5%, with a total decline of 59.2%. Property crime has shown a steady decrease since 2005, showing
a promising trend. Violent crime has followed a similar trend to the city, stabilizing around 2010 and increasing in the recent years. 30.0% Frequency of Crime Types - Oak Cliff Gardens 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Beat 726 Dallas Beat 726 has a very low rate of theft from motor vehicles. However, the neighborhood has an issue with burglaries at over 25% of the area s overall Part 1 crimes. Aggravated assault on a family member was more than double the proportion of the city, while non-family assault, burglary of a business, and other forms of theft were also slightly higher than the rate citywide.
Many crimes mapped in Oak Cliff Gardens involved interfering with child custody, which is not a serious community problem. The large red circle on Custer and Aztec contained many of those crimes, but also a few forms of theft and violence. The area east of Cardinal and north of Custer also contained serious offenses, as well as the red zone on Scotland Dr. None of these crimes can be associated with a particular location, as most happened on residential properties.
Joppa Joppa makes up a small portion of beat 732 just off I-45 and Loop 12. Originally settled by freed slaves in the late 1860s, this neighborhood sits near the Trinity River, Trinity Forest, and Joppa Preserve. The city s recent investments in the community include the development of the South Central Park and splash park and the planned extension of the Trinity trail system into the neighborhood. Joppa community leaders approached Dallas Habitat to work in the neighborhood, and the organization began building in 2006. Dallas Habitat has built 58 homes, repaired 24, will complete construction on 39 more in 2016, and plans additional homes in 2017. 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Beat 732 Crime Progression Total Violent Total Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Since 2005, Joppa s property crime rate has decreased by 66.3%, and violent crimes have fallen by 58.2%. Overall, crime in this beat has decreased by 64.5%, which is significantly
better than the city of Dallas. Crime rates have fallen fairly steadily except for an increase in property crime in the years 2010 and 2011. Frequency of Crime Type - Joppa 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Beat 732 Dallas Like many of Habitat s neighborhoods, Joppa s beat has an increased rate of assault over the city s proportions among both family and non-family categories. The area also experiences a higher rate of burglary. Rape in this neighborhood also appears to have a higher frequency, but this may be due to low overall numbers causing each instance to weigh more in the percentage.
Only 56 publicly available crimes occurred in Joppa, 16 of which were Part 1 (28.6%). Per occupied parcel, this neighborhood saw a Part 1 crime rate of 5.8%. The worst of Joppa s 2015 crimes occurred in the southern portion of the neighborhood, with many forms of thefts occurring along Carbondale or around the intersection of Luzon and Dutch Harbor. The intersection of Carbondale and Cherbourg saw the arson of a stolen car, which was reported to the system in several ways. The northern portion of Joppa was peppered with minor crimes, but also some burglaries and other crimes requiring addressing. The neighborhood had a number of vehicle arsons this year, as well.
Cedar Creek Ranch Cedar Creek Ranch is a subdivision located along I-20 and Bonnie View Rd in beat 755. While the neighborhood was built at the peak of the housing market, many of the lots were slated for low-income families at 80% of Area Median Income or less. When the housing bubble burst developers left the area, leaving the neighborhood at risk of becoming a Zombie subdivision. Dallas Habitat got involved in building efforts in this neighborhood in 2008 and, by the end of 2011, completed 122 new homes. 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Beat 755 Crime Progression Total Violent Total Property 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Since 2005, Cedar Creek Ranch has seen a decrease of 33.3% in violent crime and 47.0% in property crime, with an overall decline of 44.7%. However, these numbers do not accurately reflect changes in the neighborhood. 2005 marked a time when the neighborhood was still seriously underpopulated. When building efforts strengthened in 2006, the area increased in
population and crime reporting, peaking in 2007 and declining significantly in the following years. The area seems to have held stable between 150 and 200 property crimes per year, but saw a major decrease in 2015 that is hopefully indicative of a trend in the years to come. Violent crime has followed the same trend as Dallas stabilizing over the past few years and recently increasing. 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Frequency of Crime Type - Cedar Creek Ranch Beat 755 Dallas Cedar Creek Ranch s crime proportions are statistically very similar to the city s, with both types of aggravated assault being the most significant differences.
The Cedar Creek Ranch subdivision experienced only 41 crimes, 29 of which were Part 1. Per improved parcel, the Part 1 crime rate was 8.7%. Problem areas in the neighborhood in 2015 were in the homes along Brahma with crimes ranging from interfering with child custody, to theft from a vehicle, to burglary. Other crimes along the curve of Tioga fall into categories that may draw some concern such as thefts and assault.
Crime Rate Conclusion Part 1 Crime Rate Per Improved Parcel 30.0% 25.0% Habitat Neighborhood Surrounding Beats City of Dallas 20.0% 17.8% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Mill City Bonton/Ideal Hickory Creek West Dallas Oak Cliff Gardens Joppa Cedar Creek Ranch The majority of Dallas Habitat neighborhoods are safe safer than the city at large and the neighborhoods around them. Crimes in all of the beats in this study have decreased at impressive rates, and the neighborhoods continue to get safer. However, there is much more work needed to be done. In the case of many of Habitat s communities, crime rates were surprisingly lower than their beat as a whole. This shows that concentrated efforts in neighborhood revitalization and community empowerment do work. But, revitalization cannot continue to be in small, arbitrary boundaries. All of southern Dallas, and all disinvested neighborhoods deserve an effort to improve their infrastructure and community and to reduce crime.