Do Investment and Code Enforcement Mitigate the Criminogenic Effects of Commercial Places on City Streets?

Abstract

Communities and their residents need access to commercial places that provide core goods and services (e.g., retail stores, banks, grocery stores, and restaurants). These place types, however, are often associated with higher levels of crime, though there is within-place type variability. This study explores whether investment in the form of building permits and public regulation in the form of code enforcement moderates the criminogenic effects of commercial places on city streets. Using data from a diverse set of U.S. cities, we estimate the relationship between commercial places and crime on street segments over time, and the extent to which building permits and code enforcement moderate the relationships. The findings indicate that commercial places are positively associated with crime on street segments, while building permits and code enforcement are negatively associated with crime. Moreover, building permits significantly temper the criminogenic effects of commercial places. The moderating effect of code enforcement on the relationship between commercial places and crime, however, is inconsistent across cities and crime types. We discuss the implications for community and economic development and public safety.