JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Residents of a Westside apartment complex plagued by crime will have a chance to have their voices heard at a meeting Thursday at Wayman Ministries.
The 6:30 p.m. meeting, across the street from the complex, is a reaction to a city councilman's plan that would take away low-income-housing vouchers from the Eureka Gardens apartments.
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Following a recent resurgence of crime, including an unsolved murder, residents are meeting to speak about what really happens at Eureka Gardens.
There were two homicides at the complex in 2009, three in 2010, one in 2011, and there have been two this year, including the killing of 15-year-old Demantrae Franklin, who police said was shot several times in the back in late October.
There were no homicides at the complex in 2012 or 2013.
District 9 City Councilman Warren Jones said because of the crime, the community should be gated.
"I think, bottom line, is we need to fence and restrict access to just peole who live there and their visitors," Jones said. "I think that's the only way we're going to get a long-term reduction in crime."
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said the complex is violence prone because there are lots of dead ends and places to hide.
There are off-duty police officers at the complex, according to Jones.
He said he's planning to submit a proposal that would take away low-income-housing vouchers from the apartments as a way to reduce crime.
"We're talking about restricting vouchers to that particular complex until they come up with a way to reduce the crime," Jones said.
Global Ministries owns the complex, and News4Jax attempted to contact Rev. Richard Hamlet, who runs Global Ministries, but we haven't heard back yet.
"We need to address the problem," Jones said. "We need to do it holistically and do it where there will be a lasting fix and not something that's a band-aid."
Thursday's meeting will allow residents to share their thoughts about Jones' ideas, and they can speak about what's happening at the complex.
Anyone who knows anything about a crime at Eureka Gardens can call CrimeStoppers at 866-845-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.