Residents continue to discuss improvements to central Columbia neighborhoods

Longtime central Columbia resident Eric Williams lives just down the street from where the city’s first homicide of 2017 took place on Madison Street.

“It was a once in a lifetime deal that happened on Madison and I’m hoping that will not happen again,” he said.

Williams said he believes the incident could have been prevented.

“I’ve made calls myself about the home, about the nuisances that were happening, and the parties,” he said. “Several neighbors made calls about it and it felt like it was on mute ears.”

Williams and about a dozen other central Columbia residents met at the Downtown Optimist Club Thursday evening to continue discussing ways to make their neighborhoods a better place to live.

Residents have voiced concerns about rundown rental properties in the area.

Leigh Kottwitz, Columbia’s neighborhood services manager, said there are more nuisance property cases in the central part of the city due to the older homes.

Right now two homes are up for demolition. One in the 400 block of Oak Street and the 200 block of Third Avenue. The homes are two of at least seven that have been demolished in the central city over the past few years.

“Some of these properties that are having the nuisance violations are also the same ones that are producing the primary amount of crime that’s happening in the neighborhood,” Williams said.

Residents are hoping to clear alleyways along 3rd Avenue and Forest Avenue. The proposed project includes building two affordable houses on 3rd Avenue and creating a community garden.

The Columbia Police Department said it’s been a quiet month for the central Columbia neighborhoods with only 13 crimes reported to police. Those included one burglary and a handful of larcenies.

“We’ve enjoyed some success here,” said Lt. Geoff Jones. “We really appreciate all of the effort everybody’s put into it, but it’s really paid off.”

Jones credits better relationships between officers and residents.

“We are able to address things quicker, better, more efficiently,” he said. “I would say that has a part, but a lot of it is just people getting involved.”

Williams said he hopes the discussions and meetings continues.

“More preventative measures can be taken to stop crime and prevent the loss of life,” he said.

Residents are planning to meet again on April 26.