Contact: Elizabeth Daly-Watts
Public Safety PIO
City Of Clearwater
Office: 727-562-4333
Email: elizabeth.daly-watts@myclearwater.com
HOUSE DONATED TO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE
RELEASE 08-066
June 6, 2008
WHO: Clearwater Police Department
U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida
U.S. Marshals Service Middle District of Florida
U.S Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division
Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
WHAT: The Clearwater Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal partners donate a former crack house to a non-profit neighborhood housing service.
WHEN: June 10, 2008
10:00 a.m.
WHERE: 1107 Blanche B. Littlejohn Trail
Clearwater, Fla.
HOW/WHY: The Clearwater Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, will donate a former crack house to a non-profit housing service for neighborhood revitalization in the North Greenwood Community.
The federally forfeited property at 1107 Blanche B. Littlejohn Trail will be donated to the non-profit Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., a NeighborWorks America partner.
From 1994 to 2004, the Clearwater Police Department responded to hundreds of calls for service at 1107 Blanche B. Littlejohn Trail. The calls were a result of an ongoing crack cocaine operation, which included narcotics trafficking and violent crimes such as car-jackings, robberies and firearms offenses. During a 2004 search warrant, the property owner was arrested and the house was seized under federal law.
Instead of selling the house in the open market, it is being donated to the non-profit neighborhood housing service to insure that the property is rehabilitated into quality affordable housing for the betterment of the North Greenwood Neighborhood. This is a rare occurrence. Typically, federally seized properties are sold and the proceeds are split among all the agencies involved. Instead this home is being given back to the community.
This event coincides with National NeighborWorks Week celebrating neighborhood change and awareness.
*Media Note: Officials will be available for interviews immediately following the ceremony. I have attached a map with the designated media parking location.
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Elizabeth Daly-Watts
Public Safety PIO
City of Clearwater
phone: 562-4333
fax: 562-4339
elizabeth.daly-watts@myclearwater.com