Crime Resistant Community Living Apartments in Richland/Kennewick: Are they inherrently not safe? (apartment complex)

[AndroAsc]

I've been looking at both Richland and Kennewick for possible apartment places. On my shortlist is a property that proudly advertises that it is part of the Crime Resistant Community Living program.

While this sounds really nice at a first glance, it got me thinking. Most properties don't participate in this program, and by participating in it, doesn't it signal that the property (and possibly the neighborhood) is having crime problems to begin with?

[M3 Mitch]

You can look up the crime data for Richland and for Kennewick on the "data" side of City-Data. I think you will see that neither town has much for serious crime.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by AndroAsc

I've been looking at both Richland and Kennewick for possible apartment places. On my shortlist is a property that proudly advertises that it is part of the Crime Resistant Community Living program.

While this sounds really nice at a first glance, it got me thinking. Most properties don't participate in this program, and by participating in it, doesn't it signal that the property (and possibly the neighborhood) is having crime problems to begin with?

I don't think it does, and here is why.

When I lived in Kennewick, I was considering investing in rental housing. I learned of a program put on by the Richland and Kennewick police departments to educate landlords about how to make their properties harder targets for crime. It was at the Red Cross, four evening sessions, and was some of the most outstanding police work I've ever seen close up. (I am normally a very harsh and bitter critic of the police, so when I'm paying them an unvarnished compliment, one may suppose that they earned it.) They brought in an undercover narc to talk to us. Showed us a table full of typical homebrew meth ingredients to watch for. Explained how painting over tagging is very important. Talked about shrubbery near the walls and its impact on security. An apartment complex manager; a lawyer specializing in evictions; all sorts of people who knew what they were talking about. Every opportunity to ask questions. Both police chiefs attended, which to me sends a very good signal. And everyone walked away with a police officer's business card, and the invitation to contact him with any questions. There were probably forty attendees, and they represented everything from rental owners to duplex or fourplex owners to apartment complex management teams.

The CRCL designation is a certification the property can earn. It signifies that the landlord or a representative has attended the program and made modifications to policies and the property that make it more resistant to housing potential criminals, or break-ins and vandalism from outside. Criminals prefer easier targets, and I believe the police when they tell me that a few modifications and some due diligence in renting can encourage the scum to go elsewhere.

The experience inspired me not to become a landlord, but that was all right. I got a good look at some of the potential problems I might face and realized I wasn't cut out for it, so it was very worthwhile. And if I had to rent in Richland or Kennewick, I'd be looking for those CRCL signs as a strong positive. I don't want to live next to a meth lab, any more than the landlord wants there to be a meth lab, any more than the police want a meth lab to exist. If there is any potential downside, it could be that landlords might (with good reason) charge a bit more rent because the designation improves appeal.

I think most properties don't participate either because they don't want to take the time attending the training, or don't want to spend time or money modifying the property. It's too bad. However, if you have questions about it, I suggest you call the police department in question and ask to speak to the CRCL coordinator (when I took the class in Kennewick, it was Officer Knox, who impressed me as a good police officer). The officer in question can verify everything I'm saying, and can explain why the program means less tags, less vandalism, and less appeal for crooks. You can also ask the property management representative what exactly they did to earn it; I think they would tell you. I think a landlord that hears about the existence of the program (which is free) and won't take advantage of it is very shortsighted.