East Lake Meadows, a public housing community in Atlanta, was notoriously notorious as Little Vietnam, due to its escalating crime rate, which in 1995 was 18 times higher than the national average, with a shocking average of one murder per week. The surging crime rate was a matter of grave concern for the inhabitants of the area.
Columbia Residential, an affordable housing and mixed-income real estate company with around 50 properties in Georgia most of which are located in metro Atlanta, took over the reins of East Lake Meadows’ 542 units. The area underwent a change of name and is now known as the Villages at East Lake.
The transition, however, did not witness a substantial decrease in criminal activity, as the neighborhood maintains its reputation as one of the Atlanta Police Department’s top crime hot spots. The persistent high crime rate continues to be a pressing issue for the real estate company.
A representative for Columbia Residential made it clear that the businesses situated in high crime areas bear the consequences of any criminal activity that transpires on or near their property. They referenced the premises liability law in Georgia, which emphasizes a property owner’s responsibility to ensure ordinary care for the safety of people on their property.
The representative further pointed out the company’s efforts in handling security issues by stating that millions are being spent on security measures. However, such measures are still not sufficient to control crime in these areas.
There’s a growing concern among insurance experts and businesses like Columbia Residential that the premises liability law is potentially driving enterprises away from high-criminality areas and even out of Georgia. The law not only inflates insurance coverage costs but also occasionally makes it harder for businesses to obtain coverage.
They fear that this law might discourage potential developers and businesses from investing in Georgia. The argument revolves around the obstacles and liabilities that this law places on the businesses operating in high crime areas, which might deter future investments.
A recent noteworthy incident occurred when a southeast Atlanta CVS store’s parking lot became a crime scene. In the ensuing legal battle, CVS was found to be 95% culpable for not implementing effective safety measures like guards, gates, and surveillance cameras.
In another shocking event, a man who was murdered while attempting to prevent a car theft was granted a $31 million claim under Georgia’s premises liability law. This ruling emphasized the accountability of land owners or occupiers for any damages incurred due to injuries caused by their lack of ordinary care in maintaining the safety of their premises and adjacent areas.
A significant observation here is that, even when businesses and their insurance providers do not feel liable for an injury, they often choose to make out-of-court settlements. This is because the cost to settle these disputes might be significantly less than the potential award a jury might grant to the claimant.
The complexity of the situation extends further when insurance companies refuse to cover the medical expenses of individuals injured on these properties. In such cases, the financial burden of the medical cost is passed on to taxpayers, amplifying the crisis.
There have been initiatives to explore solutions by benchmarking against measures undertaken by other states. For instance, the historic tort reform enforced by Florida in 2023 may provide some insights. This mandate compelled owners to devise a set of best practices defining the security steps necessary to avoid being legally responsible for crimes committed by third parties.
The law encourages businesses to adopt various security measures such as installing surveillance cameras, implementing security gates, and positioning security personnel. Such steps are necessary for maintaining a safe environment in these areas.
One should, however, note that in situations where these initiatives do not influence liability decisions, some businesses might choose to avoid implementing them, which continues the discussion about the effectiveness of these preventive actions.
While a comprehensive solution to this ongoing issue isn’t foreseeable in the immediate future, it is imperative for the stakeholders involved to address these challenges proactively. The complexity of the situation demands innovative strategies combining legal reform, urban planning, and prudent business practices.
The post Caught in the Crosshairs: Atlanta’s Villages at East Lake Battles Persistent Crime appeared first on Real News Now.
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