Public Safety

Spring Valley Apartments Certified As Crime-Free Multi Housing

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Three years ago, rampant crime occurred in and around the Greenwood Villas Apartments in Spring Valley. One resident who has lived there nine years recalled drive-by shootings. The owner said drugs, prostitution and gang crimes were common at the complex.

But for three years now, the property owner, the San Diego County Sheriff’s crime prevention specialist unit and on-site property managers have been working together to evict problem tenants and spruce up the apartment complex. On Monday, it paid off with a Crime Free Multi-Housing Program certification and a proclamation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for the hard-won accomplishment.

“The apartment complex has well earned the certificate,” County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said in a ceremony, adding that other complexes would look to Greenwood Villas as a model for the program.

Supervisor Jacob said the program was a great example of how the community can partner with government to improve safety in neighborhoods. She encouraged tenants to take a stand against crime, drugs and gangs.

The Greenwood complex at 9233 Kenwood Drive has seen a 56 percent reduction in total calls for service since making changes towards earning its Crime Free certification. From July 1 to Dec. 31 in 2010, the Sheriff’s Department recorded 55 calls for service – most of them disturbances but also residential burglaries and theft — at the complex. Last year, after much of the program had been put in place, deputies recorded 24 calls in the same time period.

Maria Garcia, an onsite assistant manager at the complex, has lived there for a year, and in just that short time she said she has seen a lot of improvements. She feels it is a safe place to live and her daughter and grandchildren also live in the complex.

“We are trying to make it safe for the children,” said Garcia. “I like the assistance of the sheriff and I know I could call them and they would come here.”

Sheriff’s Capt. Pete Callewaert told tenants who gathered for the celebration Monday that there will never be enough sheriff’s deputies or police officers to stop all crime on their own.

“We need to partner with the community. It’s a joint effort between all of us. You’re our eyes and ears for keeping the community safe,” Callewaert said. “I think it will pay off dividends down the road.”

Property owner Linda Mallonee of Temecula also spoke to the tenants. She told them she didn’t know what she was getting into when she purchased the complex as an investment. The property managers she hired initially let the property fall into disrepair. Mallonee said she lived out of town and didn’t see the trouble until it was far gone.

She has invested $400,000 over the past four years to try to make repairs such as adding security cameras and newer fencing, installing new garage doors, repaving the sidewalks, walkways, and parking lot and painting and landscaping. She assured the tenants that she has re-invested all money earned from the complex back into the apartments to try to improve them.

“It’s just a beginning. We have lots more to do,” Mallonee said. “We are going to do everything we can to keep that (progress) moving forward.”

Sheriff’s crime prevention specialist Jose Ortiz said, as part of the Crime Free Multi-Housing program, tenants sign a lease addendum agreeing not to commit any crimes or allow their guests to conduct in illegal activity on the leased premises. If they violate that, there is a strong possibility that they could be evicted and they would have to be out in three days. Previously, evictions could take months to process.

By advertising as a Crime Free Multi-Housing property, a more stable and better quality tenant is likely to apply. Rigorous background checks will also dissuade and prevent tenants with a criminal history from getting an apartment.

Ortiz said other property managers interested in learning more about the program should contact the local crime prevention unit to enroll in a training session.  More information

Yvette Urrea Moe is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact