The Wake

The Center for Neighborhoods is an organization formed in 1994 to strengthen neighborhoods. It promotes innovation, equity and sustainability at the neighborhood and community level. The Center asked the Metropolitan Design Center to assist in coordinating a workshop that will encourage the community to take an active role in making cities more livable.

The Metropolitan Design Center is an endowed center that investigates how design can be used to make metropolitan landscapes more livable, workable and sustainable by examining urban design across metropolitan areas through projects, research and education. The Design Center was privileged to have Wendy Sarkissian speak at the U of M on November 8 at Burton Hall. Sarkissian spoke for community members and students, highlighting case studies on design strategies that can make our communities safer and more sustainable. “She is committed to finding spirited ways to nurture, support and engage citizenry,” Gretchen Nichols, executive director for the Center for the Neighborhoods, says.

Sarkissian offered case studies on crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) strategies in Australia and shared creative solutions for safer communities. According to Marcus Felson, author of Crime and Everyday Life and professor of criminal justice at Rutgers University, CPTED is a set of sociophysical techniques for reducing harm and fear of crime without negative consequences. Basically, it’s using your surroundings in an effort to create safer communities, homes and workplaces.

According to Sarkissian there are a few CPTED basics that everyone should know:

Territoriality

Access control

Surveillance

Building and Landscape design

Legitimate activities

Management and Maintenance

Socio-cultural context

Sarkissian’s work as a social planning consultant has paved a path for innovative planning and development approaches. Her suggestions are simple: a fence or a tree hedge that separates private property from public property, buildings without balconies on the lower levels and a clear view to your car or child’s playground from the kitchen window. Don’t leave your new laptop sitting in the window, visible to people passing on the street. She also suggested that landscaping and maintenance are signs of a crime conscious neighborhood. Put signs up indicating that you have a security system or a neighborhood watch program. Let a possible criminal know that certain behavior is not tolerated in your community. She also recommends trying to be in a populated and well-lit area like a crowded street or market place.

Sarkissian also spoke about situational crime prevention, which means considering why someone might be a target and minimizing the excuses for someone to commit the crime. A broken window and a run-down dwelling are often easy targets for criminals. Walking alone down a dark alley or standing at the bus stop with your hands full of shopping bags also makes you an easy target. Dwellings that are well lit, well landscaped and well kept are often intimidating to criminals, and might cause them to second guess their decision to make you their victim. Sarkissian also pointed out that young people are the most vulnerable.

Sarkissian holds a Masters of Arts in literature, a Masters of Town Planning and a PhD in environmental ethics and has earned forty professional awards. Sarkissian is a member of the International Board of Global Urban Development and is now an award winning author of several books dealing with safe housing and community involvement. Sarkissan offered some helpful lessons that she has learned throughout the years, such as: think like a criminal, and know that they are very intelligent; lighting can make a big difference; and maintenance and management are important for public spaces.

“The police cannot prevent crime by themselves; they depend on the community members for support. A safe place happens by creating a sense of community and neighborhood ownership,” Sarkissian says.