Reduce Drive By Shootings with Better Street Design
- Veronica Spark
- Jun 29, 2022
- 5 min read
A Neighborhood in Crisis: Gun Violence and the Need for Change
In recent years, Portland, Oregon, has seen a troubling rise in gun violence, with an alarming 30% nationwide increase in such violence during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, shootings were becoming a near-daily occurrence, with incidents escalating from late-night to early-evening gunfire. In 2021 alone, Portland experienced its highest number of homicides in three decades. Meanwhile, Philadelphia reported 562 homicides in 2021, continuing the city’s struggle with escalating gun violence.
In Mt. Scott-Arleta, the situation had become so dire that local resident Nadine Salama, a preschool owner, found herself having to reassure her neighbors after a shooting across from her home. But despite her efforts, the violence continued. By summer 2021, the neighborhood saw as many as five to six shootings per month. However, Salama’s response to this escalating violence would become a model of how smart street design and community action can tackle this issue.
The Problem: How Physical Environment Fuels Violence
The increasing gun violence in Portland was not an isolated incident but part of a broader urban crisis. Across the United States, cities like Philadelphia are grappling with rising homicide rates and violent crime. A shocking statistic reveals that gun violence spiked by more than 30% during the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbating the strain on communities already struggling with poverty, economic inequality, and systemic issues.
Salama quickly recognized that her neighborhood’s physical layout contributed to the problem. Mt. Scott Park, where many of the shootings occurred, is next to a major thoroughfare—72nd Avenue—allowing shooters to quickly escape the scene. The nearby church parking lot, with multiple access points, also made it easier for perpetrators to flee.
The systemic factors exacerbating the problem were tied to urban planning decisions and public safety infrastructure—or the lack thereof. Underfunded neighborhoods, neglected public spaces, and poor street design created an environment ripe for criminal activity. As is often the case, these problems were compounded by the unaddressed social factors: poverty, lack of access to education, and inadequate support for mental health issues, all of which fuel violence.
What Had Been Attempted: Ineffective Solutions in the Face of Systemic Challenges
Before Salama’s intervention, the neighborhood’s response to gun violence had been minimal. Traditional approaches, such as increased police presence and reactive crime control, failed to address the root causes of the violence or its environment. Police response, while necessary, did not prevent the underlying issue of urban design that made it easy for shooters to quickly flee and for crime to spread.
In addition, previous attempts to clean up areas or reduce crime through social programs often lacked the coordination needed to create lasting change. For example, while many cities have pushed for better policing or increased security measures, these strategies alone were insufficient because they did not take into account the impact of physical spaces on crime.
Research supports this, showing that simply improving environmental design—like clearing vacant lots, adding streetlights, or creating community spaces—can reduce crime by fostering a sense of community ownership and pride. Salama’s insight into the neighborhood’s infrastructure became the key to addressing these issues in a holistic way.
The Solution: Transforming Spaces to Combat Violence
Salama took matters into her own hands by first addressing the immediate threat posed by the neighborhood’s infrastructure. Working closely with local organizations, she began transforming the physical environment to make it harder for criminals to escape after committing violence. The first step was working with the church across from the park to block off access points to its parking lot, a common getaway route for shooters.
Next, Salama contacted Portland's Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and local community justice organizers, including Dr. Jonathan Jay, who studies the link between traffic patterns and gun violence. Together, they identified a slip lane near the park that allowed for quick turnarounds, providing an easy escape for criminals. Salama and the team decided to convert this space into a community space, a move that would not only reduce the chances of gun violence but also revitalize the area for positive social interaction.
Meanwhile, Salama took immediate action by pressing for city interventions. With the support of the community, the city installed traffic barriers, limiting access to residential streets around the park and forcing vehicles to slow down. This seemingly simple step made a significant difference: within a week, gun violence in the area dropped by 60%, and the neighborhood went 57 days without a shooting.
The Impact: A 60% Reduction in Gun Violence and the Power of Place
The impact of Salama’s efforts was immediate and profound. Within just weeks of implementing traffic barriers and reclaiming public spaces, Mt. Scott-Arleta saw a remarkable 60% reduction in gun violence. This was not a temporary fix—it became a model for other neighborhoods seeking to address similar issues. The physical redesign of streets, combined with community engagement, created an environment where violence was not allowed to thrive.
Further studies have shown that changes to urban environments, such as reducing blight, increasing greenery, and improving public spaces, can have a lasting effect on reducing gun violence. In Philadelphia, for example, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s LandCare program has transformed vacant lots, resulting in a 29% drop in crime. Salama’s work mirrored these findings, proving that environmental design, when paired with community activism, can create safer neighborhoods.
Lessons Learned: The Power of Community and Urban Design in Solving Gun Violence
Salama’s success in reducing gun violence offers a number of valuable lessons for other cities grappling with similar issues. First and foremost, the transformation of public spaces can have a direct impact on reducing crime. Simple interventions like restricting traffic patterns, blocking escape routes, and revitalizing parks can make a significant difference in fostering a safer, more engaged community.
Moreover, the importance of community involvement cannot be overstated. Salama worked closely with local residents, youth organizations, and church leaders to create a solution that addressed the root causes of violence, rather than just its symptoms. By taking ownership of the neighborhood’s physical space, residents created a sense of pride and safety that deterred criminal behavior.
This holistic approach—combining urban planning with community activism—offers a blueprint for cities like Philadelphia, where gun violence remains a persistent issue. The work in Mt. Scott-Arleta proves that the way we design our streets and public spaces can directly impact the safety and well-being of our communities. A cleaner, more engaged neighborhood, with fewer escape routes for criminals, is a step toward reclaiming our cities from the grip of violence.
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Fight City Gun Violence with Better Street Design
Courtney Duchene, The Philadelphia Citizen, June 24, 2022
Four people made small changes to reduce gun violence in one Portland neighborhood by 60%.
Six months after they moved into their new home, there was a shooting across the street. Salama, who has lived and worked in Mt. Scott-Arleta for 12 years, found herself reassuring her neighbors that this kind of thing wasn’t common in the neighborhood. But the shootings were becoming more and more common. By summer, there were five or six shootings each month. Salama noticed her neighborhood’s physical layout made it conducive to drive-by shootings. What she did next reduced gun violence by 60%. And as an involved neighbor and preschool owner, Salama started local.