A recent report by the Drachman Institute at the University of Arizona has uncovered a shocking revelation – an entire neighborhood in Pima County, Arizona has been abandoned.
The Julia Keen Neighborhood, part of the Pima County Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2), stands out with the highest vacancy rate among the selected neighborhoods, with 10.8% of all structural units vacant according to 2010 U.S. Census data.
Vacancy and Foreclosure Rates
The report defines vacancy based on boarded windows and doors, and by this measure, 0.4% of parcels in Julia Keen Neighborhood were vacant as of November 2010. However, the broader Census definition, which includes units for rent or sale, seasonal use, and “other vacant” properties, paints a much bleaker picture.
Foreclosure rates in the census tract containing Julia Keen are also alarming. As of June 2010, 16.1% of mortgages were in serious delinquency or foreclosure, with 109 foreclosure starts and 70 completions between July 2009 and July 2010.
Neighborhood Conditions
The report also assessed the condition of landscapes in Julia Keen. While 37% of multi-family residential landscapes were rated “excellent”, only 15% of single-family landscapes fell into this category. Retail, office, and industrial landscapes fared even worse, with 15-20% rated “excellent”.
Undeveloped land in the neighborhood is in particularly poor condition, with 90.5% rated “poor”. This likely contributes to issues like illegal dumping on vacant properties, which is common in Julia Keen and other older neighborhoods in the area.
Causes and Consequences
The report does not delve into the specific causes of the abandonment in Julia Keen, but the high foreclosure rates and economic factors likely played a significant role. The consequences, however, are clear – a neighborhood in severe decline, with high vacancy, poor property maintenance, and environmental issues.
Conclusion
The abandonment of Julia Keen Neighborhood is a troubling sign of the challenges facing some communities in Pima County. While the NSP2 program aims to stabilize neighborhoods, more work is needed to address the root causes of abandonment and foreclosure. Without intervention, neighborhoods like Julia Keen risk becoming ghost towns, with all the social and economic consequences that entails.