Safe Public Space Physical or Social Matter? Marjan Hajjari Social Planner at Moreland City Council PhD Candidate in Urban Design at University of Melbourne.

Safe Public SpacePhysical or Social Matter?

Marjan HajjariSocial Planner at Moreland City Council

PhD Candidate in Urban Design at University of Melbourne

November 2013

“ Poor design facilitates crime, good design will not necessarily prevent it”.( Merry in Valentine, Gill 1990)

Safe Public Space

Physical structure

Social structureSocial Structure

“ Social relations within a space and the group(s) who control that space socially have a greater influence on how safe women feel than does the design of the space” (Valentine, Gill 1990)

Social cohesion

right

to th

e ci

ty

Inclusive public space

Perc

eptio

n of

Saf

ety

excluded

Research project exploring young people’s perceptions

Geography of Women Fear

age,

gen

der,

eth

nici

tySafe Public Spaces for Women

“ Safety for me has dropped. I don’t feel as safe as I used to in these areas…I live in a laneway as well and […] I don’t mind the kids, they hang out there and drink and smoke but they’re generally harmless. But I think there’s a bit of division.

For me personally with a lot of Middle Eastern cultures it feels…and I live with my nieces who alos feel a bit like this, with a lot of these new shisha bars. They feel very predominantly male oriented and as women we don’t fell comfortable to go there” A middle-aged long-term Anglo-Australian resident in Coburg

“ …Muslim women [in Fawkner] have fears about their safety in the street and on public transport, particularly outside their immediate neighbourhood”

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NGYgM6u1MP7s3h2RXErZOQ

Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Renewal Project (Moreland City Council)

An alternative approach to improve social inclusion and community safety in urban public space

Justin Avenue shopping strip, GlenroyMoreland City Council

BACKGROUND

Justin Avenue Category 2 Shopping Strips,

Justin Ave was targeted for the last financial year (12/13).

Key IssuesPerceived sense of safety

Experiencing high rates of violence and crime Associated drug trading/use

Image and sense of place: Low social connection among the residents A poor aesthetic image

Key Issues

Key IssuesActivities and economic situation

High rate of shop vacancy,8 vacant shops out of 13

Medical centre

Pizza

Milk bar

Pharmacy

Justi

n Av

enue

Daley Street

Built Form:4 active shops, 9 closed shops and a medical centre

Street Furniture:3 Seats1 Bin3 trees

Parking: 25 on-street car parks including 2 disable car park

Key Issues

Social structure

High concentration of social housing in the area Significant number of single mothers who are living in low economic condition with a high rate of domestic violence.

Key Issues

Movement and traffic issue

Inadequate public transportation with a low frequency

There is not any shopping strip in the walking catchment of Justin Avenue, so if it improves, it would be able to serve a large number of dwellings,

Opportunities

Widford StreetShopping Centre

West StreetShopping Centre

North StreetShopping Centre

East StreetShopping Centre

Glenroy Activity Centre

Justin AvenueShopping Centre

Opportunities

The reserve in front of the shopping strip can be used to improve the liveability of the place.

Opportunities

There is significant number of new dwellings around Justin Avenue,

Objectives

Change the perception of the place,

Improve public safety,

Provide a public place for community engagement and connectivity,

Encourage the social interaction and interest at the street level,

Improve the physical appearance of the place,

Improve the economy and business at the shopping strip,

Justin Avenue Shopping Strip

Place Design & StrategyEconomic DevelopmentSocial Development, Arts and Culture, Open SpaceCommunity WellbeingYouth & Community Development

Moreland City Council

Traders and Shop ownersGlenroy Secondary College

Merri Community Health Services

Police Victoria

Department of Human Services

The project includes four main elements:

Upgrades to the external area of shopping strip Urban Design team

Upgrades to the reserveOpen Space team

Activation of one of the vacant shops and a street party Community Wellbeing/ Economic development

Art work(s) applied to some of the roller shutters in collaboration with local school students Youth services

Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Project

Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Community Consultation

Traffic

Personal Safety

Anti-Social Behaviour

Litter

Vacant Shops

Appearance of the strip

Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Design Concept

Painting the roller shutters doors Moreland Youth serviceGlenroy Secondary school

Justin Avenue Street Party

Moreland City CouncilMerry Community HealthSalvation Army

Justin Avenue Street Party

Justin Avenue Community Engagement Program William Turner Reserve- (10 October-28 November)

Glenroy libraryStory time for children

Moreland aged and disability servicesActive Moreland exercise session, Seniors Lunch

Glenroy neighbourhood learning centreTry social dancing,Sewing demonstrationFilm making workshop

Promote mental health awareness for young peopleIn collaboration with Glenroy College

Planting sessionMoreland Open space team in collaboration with Belle Vue Park Primary

Playgroup Victoria Van

Family relationship centre

Salvation Army

Justin Avenue Community Engagement Program William Turner Reserve- (10 October-28 November)

Change the place of others to place of us