I was out running some errands yesterday afternoon and when I came home I found a flyer in my mailbox from a U of W Professor.
Dear Neighbourhood Resident;There is quite a bit more info on the handout related to the survey, but the above paragraph gives you the general idea.
My name is Alan Phipps and I'm a professor in the Sociology and Anthropology Department at the University of Windsor. I'd like to invite you to participate in a research project entitled "Surveys for The Glengarry and Wellington-Crawford Geographical Monitoring Project". In this project, I've computer-programmed Google maps to create internet-based webpages of the locations and timings of crime and disorder offences, house sales, and fires during the years 2007, and 2006, around where you live. You can spend as little or as much time browsing my webpages as you wish, and you can stop whenever you've had enough. The index webpage at http://www.gwc.uwindsor.ca provides more background about the project. A quick look at this may help you decide whether you're interested.
I took the survey and viewed the various maps. Although I have a good idea of the rate of crime in this area, I must admit I was still shocked to see it represented graphically.
I remember the Windsor Star doing a piece about 15 years ago showing the worst crime area in the city as a two block area bounded by Caron, University, Bruce and Wyandotte. After viewing Professor Phipps maps, I see some things haven't changed. Seeing as I live right at the NW corner of the worst area, it's not hard to understand why there's never a dull moment around here.
(click on image for full size)
One thing to note is that this area is directly south of the "Urban Village" site. In terms of an area crying out for urban renewal, you're looking at it.