Police target problems at city housing projects

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 22, 2000

Public housing has long been a target of criticism everywhere.

Monday, May 22, 2000

Public housing has long been a target of criticism everywhere.

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While the subsidized housing projects serve their purpose in providing low- or no-income people with housing, they also seem to be magnets for criminals.

Austin is no exception.

Mention Mandolin Place, Western Manor and Bremerton multifamily housing projects in Austin, and the documented police reports of repeated calls made to the housing projects speak for themselves.

But, that is changing.

An aggressive program of the Austin Police Department has turned the tide at Bremerton Apartments, in particular.

The police presence in cars or on foot patrol indicates the property owner-manager, Lanmark Inc., will no longer tolerate activities that interfere with the peace and quiet of the majority of residents and result in visits by law enforcement.

Now, the Austin Police Department is taking this no-nonsense approach further.

Last week, 15 landlords, property managers and other owners of multifamily housing projects in Austin spent eight hours learning how they can help themselves and their tenants.

The Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program debuted in Austin. Police officer Steve Wald conducted the eight-hour class, which is a unique,

three-phase certification program for rental properties of all sizes. It can help single-family rental home operators and multifamily operators.

In addition to Wald, representatives from the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Fox Electric, Lee’s Lock and Security Services and other applicable businesses taught the course.

The Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program began in Mesa, Ariz., in 1992 and is designed to be a partnership between law enforcement, property managers and residents.

"It’s designed to help train landlords about the things they can do to reduce crime," Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp said.

Wednesday’s class in the training room at the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center was only the first phase of the program.

Topics such as understanding crime prevention, lease applications and rules, common sense of self-defense, combating crime problems, working with law enforcement and dealing with non-compliance were discussed.

According to the police chief, Rochester has had a tough program similar to the one being introduced to Austin. He said the Rochester program may be credited (or blamed) for a number of former Rochester residents moving to Austin and creating problems for local landlords and other tenants.

Coming later will be the development of a crime watch program for individual multifamily housing projects.

Philipp said the program has been two years in development in Austin and he is hopeful it will be a success.

"Hopefully, we build an alliance with landlords and tenants," he said.