Richmond Police Department
Patrol Services Bureau ● 1701 Regatta Blvd ● Richmond, CA. ● 94804
Date: September 23, 2024
To: Lina Velasco
From: Sergeant Kristopher Tong
Re: CPTED Assessment – 207 37th Street, Richmond, California 94805
CPTED is an acronym for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design—an approach to reducing crime and the fear of crime by teaming planners, designers, landscapers and police to create safe surroundings within our constructed environment. CPTED principles and strategies are intended to reduce criminal activity on a property, but they do not guarantee that all crime risks will be prevented. Some examples of CPTED activities include: Repairing vacant lots and abandoned buildings, maintaining neighborhood green spaces, and upkeeping neighborhood housing.
Property Location: 207 37th Street, Richmond, California 94805
Property Description: Office Building
BACKGROUND:
207 37th Street is a proposed location for an emergency housing shelter. The applicant, Greg Van Mechelen, has requested a conditional use permit to convert this office building into temporary housing for those who are unhoused. The applicant stated there will be up to 25 beds available for those in need.
From January 2023 to August 2023, California Portsmouth Square Association operated an emergency housing shelter from this same building. The shelter was closed, and Mr. Van Mechelen has requested to reopen it.
The building is located on 37 th Street and Bissell Avenue. The building is neighbor to a Citibank N.A. bank branch to the north, and a residential neighborhood to the west and south. This location is approximately 540 feet from DeJean Middle School.
A parking lot with three (3) parking stalls is located immediately to the west of this building. Three (3) additional parking stalls are located in a separate parking lot (separated from the building’s parking lot by a short cement curb), though is not associated with this building.
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Calls for service from 2019 to 2024 (for 2024, statistics include January 2024 to September (to-date) 2024) for the listed location 207 37th Street and within 300 feet of this location were as follows:
2019 – 138 calls for service
2020 – 162 calls for service
2021 – 158 calls for service
2022 – 146 calls for service
2023 – 184 calls for service
2024 – 151 calls for service
This location was only observed during daylight hours. The building was unoccupied and inaccessible during the time of this assessment.
ASSESSMENT:
Building: The exterior of the building is in below average condition. Paint is chipped in numerous locations, and decorative wood pieces are pulled away from the building (with nails exposed). Graffiti was seen on at least two different locations on the exterior of the building.
The parking lot ground had numerous discarded it ems on the ground and dried dead leaves . The parking stall lines are visible, though faint. The parking lot should be clean of debris and parking stall lines should be painted to clearly outline the location in which vehicles can park.
The building, to include the parking lot, should be maintained in good condition. Leaving a building or parking lot in disarray, encourages criminal activity and ultimately decreases safety for those in and around the location (broken window theory).
The entrance/exit door to the building from the parking lot is not visible from the parking lot itself.
The building’s door is separated by a wall made of wooden slats and a metal door. This “breezeway” is of concern, and creates an area where one is not visible from those in the parking lot or street. This area allows for individuals to hide and/or participate in illegal activity undetected. To prevent this area from being a location for illicit activity, it should be removed.
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Lighting: During daylight hours, this location has no lighting concerns. Natural sunlight illuminates the building, and the parking lot satisfactorily.
In the evening hours, the primary area of concern is the parking lot associated with this building. The building was equipped with two exterior lights (with two lamps each) facing the parking lot. This light appeared inadequate to illuminate the entire parking lot. These lights would also leave areas of the parking lot dimly lit.
Illuminating the area surrounding this building, to include the parking lot associated with it, is crucial for the safety of those occupying this building. Lighting should be increased to higher intensity lighting options (such as metal halide lighting) a nd/or additional lighting fixtures, to achieve sufficient object illumination (be able to identify a person at 25’). Good lighting also provides physical and psychological deterrence to would-be offenders.
Because this building is within close proximity to a residential neighborhood (with homes immediately to the west and south of the location), lighting options must be considerate of those in the residential neighborhood.
The remaining sides of the building appear to have adequate lighting options ( i.e. city street lamp(s) affixed to a utility pole, bank parking lot lamps). To be certain, this location should be viewed in the evening hours to ensure satisfactory object illumination. If there is inadequate object illumination in any area surrounding this building (to include the immediate areas around it), additional lighting must be added.
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Windows: There are windows on the west and east side of the building, along with narrow glass panes (presumably) to allow natural light to enter the building. Some of the windows are covered with wood. Because the building is currently not occupied, it is presumed the windows are covered to protect the glass while the building is vacant. Windows should be left uncovered (by wood or similar), and should allow for natural sunlight to enter the building, and for occupants to see outside.
The front of the building is located on the east side of the structure (on 37th Street). The entrance was protected by a secure barrier, though the front of the entrance appeared to be glass doors and windows. There appears to be no tint on the windows. This is important to maintain to ensure t wo- way visibility.
Sound: This location is surrounded by a residential neighborhood immediately to the west and south.
Though sound may not be concerning during the daytime hours, it may be of concern in the evening.
Based solely on attending the planning commission meeting in June, and having talked to residents in this specific neighborhood, there are concerns of loitering and illicit activity around the surround ing areas of this building. Such activities occur throughout all hours of the day, though more prominent during the evening hours.
It is important for the occupants of this building to be conscious of noise l evels coming from and around this building. Allowing excessive noise will encourage unwanted activity and/or individuals in and around this location.
Uniformed Security: This building was vacant when this assessment was conducted. There were no security personnel on site during this assessment.
It is difficult to anticipate the need for adequate uniformed security personnel before a building is occupied for its intended purpose. Based on the intent this location be an emergency housing shelter, and to reaffirm the safety of all employees and occupants of the shelter, a minimum of two uniformed security personnel should be present at all times.
One uniformed security personnel should remain outside of the building. Th is individual should conduct regular “foot patrol” of the parking lot, around the exterior of the building, and immediate surrounding area (to include vehicles parked in the parking lot, vehicles parked along the street that appear to be associated with this building, etc).
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One uniformed security personnel should remain inside of the build ing. Th is individual should maintain peace within the building, and ensure the safety of those working/residing within the building.
Security personnel’s demeanor should be courteous and polite, not adversarial, and they should make eye contact with and greet as many people as possible. Peo ple lingering on the premises (or in vehicles within the vicinity) for no apparent reason may likely be engaging in activity of a suspicious nature and should be contacted. Uniformed security personnel should also be stationed at the front of the establishment.
Signage: There should be signage posted around the building to clearly notify individuals of unwanted activity/loitering. Signs stating “No loitering” are sufficient, though signage specifying city ordinances or penal code are more effective.
Parking: The building’s parking lot has inadequate parking (3 parking spaces) for the size of the building (and the intended number of occupants) . Additional parking is available on the street adjacent to the building. Because parking is inadequate, it is concerning vehicles associated with the shelter may park in the residential neighborhood. Shelter staff (and/or security personnel) should ensure vehicles parked on the street are in good working order, and do not remain parked (in the same location) for extended periods of time.
Though there is a parking lot adjacent to the parking lot associated with this building, it is not included in the conditional use permit application. As such, it will be the responsibility of the shelter’s staf f (and/or uniformed security personnel) to ensure no vehicles associated with the shelter park in this parking lot. If the applicant obtains approval from the owner/lease to utilize this parking lot, the applicant must ensure the security and maintenance of this parking lot as described in this report.
This includes, but not limited to: Uniformed security personnel “foot patrol”, adequate lighting, video surveillance cameras.
Video Surveillance: There are multiple video surveillance cameras affixed to this building. Three cameras were located on the building facing the parking lot, one camera on the south side of the building pointed towards the east side of the building, and three cameras on the front of the building facing the entrance. This appears to be sufficient surveillance cameras for the exterior this location.
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It was unconfirmed if the cameras were operational. Though mounted security cameras (functional or not) are a deterrent to would-be offenders, cameras should have record capability, and accessible for law enforcement to view if needed. Having at least one staff member trained to access camera footage is desired. Having adequate and functional surveillance cameras aide in the safety a nd well- being of those associated with this location.
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS:
First Responder Ease of Access: First responders, to include police officers, may need to respond to this location for a crime that just occurred, or medical emergency. First responders must be able to enter the facility without delay. If the doors belonging to the shelter are secured, first responders must be able to enter swiftly, when needed (i.e. if the doors are secured requiring a person to be “buzzed-in,” shelter personnel must be immediately available to allow first responders to enter when they arrive).
CONCLUSION/OTHER COMMENTS:
This report seeks to identify CPTED weaknesses and offer suggestions to improve the physical environment at 207 37th Street, following the principles of CPTED . Though the recommendations may reduce criminal activity on this property, making the recommended improvements does not guarantee the property, or surrounding areas, to be free of criminal activity.