Cleanup just the start for improving Fox View

The Carpentersville village board this week transferred about $3.17 million in bonds that it had received from the federal government to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for use on a project to repair and improve the village's most blighted area, Fox View.

The money would help California-based Steadfast Residential Properties acquire and rehabilitate the 373- unit public housing complex on the village's west side. In all, the developer will spend about $45 million on improvements to the area if and when it closes the deal with the current owner.

While some are skeptical that new management - particularly a company located out of state - could clean up the area known for drug problems and high crime rates, it is at least a step in the right direction as long as the potential owners are a giant step up from the current owners, Property Specialists.

A lateral move would not help the residents of the complex and therefore not benefit the community as a whole.

Steadfast's Senior Vice President for Residential Properties says his company has a stricter security policy and tougher trespassing rules than most. That would be a distinct improvement since statistics from the police department suggest most of the crime is committed by outsiders, not residents.

Police have said the 1,200 or so residents are not necessarily the problem. It's the boyfriends, brothers and friends conducting drug deals and other illegal activity.

Steadfast said it would spend about $24,000 per unit to clean up exteriors, update interiors and install sophisticated security systems that monitor the parking lot and other common areas.

But replacing facade, painting and putting in some new roof tiling is a thumbnail compared to what the complex needs to improve its image and quality of life for residents.

Sure, nicer homes and cleaner living areas might encourage people to take better care of the complex, which is on prime real estate right along the Fox River. But most importantly, more police presence is needed. The problems seen in Fox View will not disappear when a developer makes the area look nicer. Nor will the problems cease when a new manager comes in.

What will help decrease crime rates and drug deals is a cooperative effort between the new management and local police department to up patrols in the area, let residents know that the police are watching and will not tolerate illegal behavior.

That would all start with new management willing to work alongside the police department to make a concerted effort to improve Fox View, not only for the 1,200 or more residents in the development, but also for the 36,000 other residents in the village.

Those other 36,000 residents should not think Fox View's problems are restricted to Fox View. The problems emanate out of the complex.

Drug dealers and other criminals come from somewhere, perhaps even next door.

Problems don't stop at your back door. Take pride in the whole community to make the town a better place to live for all.