Residents of South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights in southeast Atlanta, working to save their neighborhoods, are calling on City Hall and police for help, fast.
ATLANTA — Residents of historic South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights in southeast Atlanta are saying it has become almost impossible for them to live there.
Crime continues to rise, and some residential streets have turned into racetracks and party zones.
11Alive has been following the trends there for months now, as residents try to fight back.
One of the residents, Terry Felder, recorded a video this past Saturday night of the street in front of his home, off Lakewood Avenue, SE.
“All the traffic is in the neighborhood, parked everywhere,” Felder said on his video, describing parked and double-parked cars up and down the street--a street taken over, once again, by one of the frequent parties at a music and film studio that moved in a year ago around the corner.
Also in Felder's video: the flicker of emergency lights from an ambulance, which was there, Felder found out, to respond to one of the party guests who was overdosing on drugs.
“They took over this neighborhood,” Felder said Tuesday. “They were sitting all on my steps here. They were sitting up on the side there.”
And Felder said the stretch of Lakewood Avenue near his neighborhood is a two-lane racetrack, with little or no speed enforcement, no stop signs or traffic lights at any of the intersections, and none of the traffic-calming enhancements that the city has installed in nearby neighborhoods.
Felder and his next-door neighbor Myrna Myrick said they are speaking for themselves and their neighbors when they take a stand against the disruptions and speeding and—the most serious issue--increasing crime, as if their part of southeast Atlanta is worse than ever, breaking down into chaos.
Myrick is now afraid to leave her house.
“I have to go to the doctor and things like that,” she said. “So I just do it. But it's scary. I try to make sure that I'm in the house when it gets dark. Because around here, that's the best thing to do.”
In the past 12 months, according to the latest Atlanta Police crime statistics, crime in Atlanta Police Zone 3, which includes South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights, has risen faster than it has in the city as a whole:
- Homicide– up 19 percent
- Rape– up 25 percent
- Burglary– up 27 percent
- Theft from Motor Vehicle– up 45 percent
“It’s almost impossible” to live in his neighborhood anymore, Felder said.
“I won’t stop by any stores around here,” he said. “I won’t go to the gas stations around here because you can get out to the gas station and you're subject to be robbed.”
Felder and Myrick and other residents of these neighborhoods are working to gain support from City Hall and Atlanta Police to address the many issues confronting them. They're also working to attract new homes and new businesses, efforts that are hampered as chaos seems to win, more and more often.
The manager of the business around the corner, who frequently leases part of his space as a party venue, confirmed on Tuesday that the Saturday night crowds and traffic which spilled into the surrounding neighborhoods were from the party hosted by his clients, who had rented his space for their event that night. He said he is aware of neighborhood’s complaints over the past several months, and that he intends crack down on his clients who violate his own rules about too many attendees, too many cars, and loud music. He said he wants to be a good neighbor.
It’s just the sort of commitment and support, Felder said, that they need from the City, as well.
“We want our neighborhood back,” Felder said. “We don't have no peace. We want our neighborhood back. Our neighborhood is gone... We need help,” to try to restore what’s been lost.
11Alive has asked Atlanta Police for information about how officers are now focusing resources on South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights to combat the rise in crime and other neighborhood disturbances.
As someone deeply immersed in the field of community safety and urban development, I can attest to the gravity of the situation faced by residents of South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights. My extensive experience and expertise in community revitalization efforts align with the challenges highlighted in the article. It's evident that the residents are grappling with a multifaceted crisis involving rising crime rates, reckless behavior, and a palpable deterioration of their once-thriving neighborhoods.
The resident, Terry Felder, articulates the concerns vividly in his video, providing tangible evidence of the issues plaguing the community. The visuals of parked and double-parked cars, the disruption caused by frequent parties at a nearby music and film studio, and the emergency lights from an ambulance responding to a drug overdose underscore the severity of the situation. Such firsthand accounts are invaluable in understanding the daily struggles faced by the residents.
Moreover, Felder's description of the neighborhood as a two-lane racetrack without proper speed enforcement, stop signs, or traffic lights, combined with the absence of traffic-calming enhancements, adds a layer of complexity to the challenges. The lack of infrastructure and safety measures contributes to the chaotic atmosphere, making it difficult for residents like Myrna Myrick to feel secure in their own homes.
The crime statistics provided by the Atlanta Police further corroborate the residents' claims, revealing alarming increases in homicide, rape, burglary, and theft from motor vehicles over the past 12 months. This data reinforces the urgency of the residents' plea for help from City Hall and law enforcement agencies.
The article also sheds light on the efforts of the residents to garner support from City Hall and the Atlanta Police. Their aim to attract new homes and businesses, despite the prevailing chaos, reflects a resilient spirit in the face of adversity. The acknowledgment from the manager of the business hosting the disruptive parties, expressing intent to address the issues raised by the neighborhood, provides a glimmer of hope for collaboration between local businesses and the community.
In conclusion, the challenges faced by the residents of South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights demand immediate attention and concerted efforts from both civic authorities and the community. The evidence presented in the form of videos, crime statistics, and residents' testimonials paints a compelling picture of a community in crisis, seeking assistance to reclaim and restore the peace and vibrancy that has been lost.
