With crime down, Barrington Place Apartments has become 'a good place to live' - News - The Fayetteville Observer

By Nichole Manna Staff writer

A Fayetteville apartment complex that was almost closed by the city can now be used as an example for other establishments facing city-forced closures, officials say.

A year ago, residents at Barrington Place Apartments, known then as Cambridge Arms Apartments, were used to the sounds of screaming voices during neighborhood fights, followed by gunshots.

"Two or three times a night you'd hear gunshots," longtime resident George Edmonds said. "There were meth labs, stabbings, people were getting robbed, you'd have people trying to get in your apartment."

From June 2013 to May 2014, Fayetteville police say they were called to the complex 142 times. The majority of calls were for domestic assaults and residential break-ins. Two people were killed during that timeframe.

From June 2014 to May 2015, police were called to the complex 77 times, a decrease of 46 percent. Break-ins are down 65 percent and domestic assaults down 44 percent. There haven't been any homicides.

"We're having a good year," Fayetteville police Chief Harold Medlock said. "Most everything is down."

The only offense that hasn't decreased are larcenies, which increased by four reported incidents, according to police records.

Officials with the apartment complex declined to comment for this story, but previously they have said they've worked hard to make sure their residents are safe.

Edmonds said he can see the difference their hard work has made.

"This is a good place to live now," he said. "They can be slow when it comes to maintenance problems being fixed, but the crime is down. It's quiet. Management is doing good."

The city attempted to shut down the 694-unit apartment complex, but in July 2014 they instead reached an agreement with the owners to clean up the crime.

After the meeting, security was beefed-up and office managers began looking more closely at the people to whom they rented apartments. No one with a criminal conviction is allowed to rent an apartment now.

The military blacklisted the complex, not allowing soldiers to rent units. The ban lasted for about two months after the July 2014 meeting, apartment officials said. It's been lifted for nearly a year.

James Evans, a soldier who rents at Barrington Place, said he's happy living there.

"I've been here since March this year," he said. "I heard it was on the blacklist before, so I was kind of worried, but when I heard they lifted it, I figured it'd be a good place."

Evans said he doesn't venture around the complex much, but his area is peaceful.

Nathan Walls, a spokesman for the city, said the complex has met all provisions of their court order and the court-sanctioned monthly meetings continue.

The complex added 24/7 security after that July 2014 meeting, and installed gates to one of the entrances in April.

"You see the guards walking around about six or seven times a day," Edmonds said.

Beyond the department's routine patrols and community watch meetings, police haven't had to do much extra work at the complex, Medlock said.

He's proud of the work management has done, including evicting a resident who was allowing unauthorized visitors into the complex who then created problems.

"There is a no trespassing policy," he said.

Medlock said Barrington Place could be used as a good example of what to do to other businesses or complexes who may face nuisance lawsuits.

"If we can save lives, it makes sense to do the work up front," he said.

Staff writer Nichole Manna can be reached at mannan@fayobserver.com or 486-3596.