Community Assessment - Windshield Document

Emma Cumper, Cassi Karpovich, Tiffany Miller, Jayna Thompson

Element DESCRIPTION YOUR OBSERVATIONS
Housing and Zoning What is the age of the houses, architecture? Of what 1970’s and older
materials are they constructed? Are all neighborhood Siding/ brick depending on location
Physical environment houses similar in age, architecture? How would you Some detached and attached garages
characterize their differences? Are they detached or Little space in yards
connected to others? Do they have space in front or Fair/good condition
behind? What is their general condition? Are there Yes, central heating, modern plumbing, AC
signs of disrepair – broken doors, windows, leaks, dependent on house
locks missing? Is there central heating, modern
plumbing, air conditioning?
Open space How much open space is there? What is the quality of Not much open space
the space – green parks or rubble-filled lots? What is Three parks
the lot size of the houses? Lawns? Flower boxes? Do Lots= less than ¼ acre
you see trees on the pavements, a green island in the Small lawns
center of the streets? Is the open space public or Yes flower boxes
private? Used by whom? Yes well kept trees on side walks
Open space is public and used by community
residents
Boundaries What signs are there of where this neighborhood City limit signs
begins and ends? Are the boundaries natural – a Natural- river and highway signs
river, a different terrain; physical – a highway, Lapeer city no we did not see is displayed
railroad; economic – difference in real estate or No unofficial names
presence of industrial or commercial units along with
residential? Does the neighborhood have an identity,
a name? Do you see it displayed? Are there unofficial
names?
“Commons”/Recreation What are the neighborhood hangouts? For what Buffalo wild wings-older, Walmart-older,
groups, at what hours (e.g. schoolyard, candy store, Crampton park- younger
 bar, restaurant, park, 24-hour drugstore)? Does the
“commons” area have a sense of “territoriality,” or is
it open to the stranger? Public facilities, Private
facilities, recreational activities frequently utilized,
leisure activities frequently utilized, Programs for
special population groups (elderly, handicapped),
Transportation* How do people get in and out of the neighborhood –
car, bus, bike, walk, etc.? Is there a functioning public
transportation system? Is it used? By whom? Does it
allow relatively easy access to all parts of the
community? How much does it cost? Are the streets
and roads conducive to good transportation and also
to community life? Is there a major highway near the
neighborhood?
Service centers Do you see social agencies, clients, recreations
centers, signs of activity at the schools? Are there
offices of doctors, dentists; palmists, spiritualists, etc.”
Are there parks? Are they in use? Could a family find
everything they need on a day-to-day basis within this
neighborhood?
Stores Where do residents shop – shopping centers,
neighborhood stores? How do they travel to shop?
Street people If you are traveling during the day, whom do you see
on the street – an occasional housewife, mother with
a baby? Do you see anyone you would not expect –
teenagers, unemployed males? Can you spot a
welfare worker, an insurance collector, a door-to-door
salesman? Is the dress of those you see
representative or unexpected? Along with people,
what animals do you see – stray cats, pedigreed pets,
“watchdogs”?
Open to everyone including strangers
We did not see anyone using the parks and
common areas while completing this survey
Car, MTLA, train, taxis, enterprise, GLTA
Older people, business people, easy access
The streets and roads are not conducive to
good transportation within city limits
I-69
Yes
There are many doctors offices, dentists, and
specialty clinics
There are three parks, no one was using them
Yes a family could find everything they need
Walmart, Meijer, Kroger, Aldi
Car, walking, bus
Moms, homeless
Most dressed appropriately
Some cats
We did not spot a welfare worker, insurance
collector or door-to-door salesman
Signs of decay Is this neighborhood on the way up or down? Is it
“alive”? How would you decide? Trash abandoned
cars, political posters, neighborhood-meeting posters,
real estate signs, abandoned houses, mixed zoning
usage?
Race Are the residents Caucasian, African-American, or of
another minority, or is the area integrated? Do
particular groups seem to live in particular areas?
Ethnicity Are there indices of ethnicity – food stores, churches,
private schools, information in a language other than
English?
Religion Of what religion are the residents? Do you see
evidence of heterogeneity or homogeneity? What
denominations are the churches? Do you see
evidence of their use other than on Sunday mornings?
Health and morbidity* Do you see evidence of acute or of chronic diseases or
conditions? Of accidents, communicable diseases,
alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, etc.? How
far it is to the nearest hospital? Clinic? Crude death
rate? Infant mortality rate? Maternal mortality rate?
Leading cause of death? Age-specific death rate?
Politics/government* Do you see any political campaign posters? Is there a
headquarters present? Do you see any evidence of a
predominant party affiliation?
Media Do you see outdoor television antennas? What
magazines, newspapers do residents read? Do you
see The Local Newspaper, Hampton Post, Enquirer,
Reader’s Digest in the stores? What media seem most
important to the residents – radio, television, print?
On the way up- more businesses are being
moving to area- marshals, dominos, culvers,
blend, tropical smoothie, Ulta
Caucasian, Hispanic, African American
We did not notice a trend on the areas they
live
Catholic church
Hispanic
Catholic, Jehovah Witness, Christian, Baptist
Transgender
NA Meetings
Yes, soup kitchen every Wednesday (Lapeer
Church of Christ)
Opioid addiction, alcoholism, mental illness
Nearest hospital is within city limits (McLaren
Lapeer)
Many urgent cares (3)
Yes many local government political posters
Many houses had outdoor television antennas
Lapeer Area View and the County Press are
both newspapers that the residents read. Both
newspapers are located within the same
editorial building that is within city limits.

Community Safety Where are the police and fire stations located? Are
they in good repair? Is the community well-lit at
night? What is the crime rate?
Vital & Demographic What is the population density? Socioeconomic
Statistic status? Employment rate, Years of school completed?
Marriage and divorce rate
The residents seem to rely on the newspaper
and television to stay up to date with things
happening in the community.
There are two police stations and one fire
station.
Michigan National gaurd
The police and fire stations appear to be in
good working condition. The Lapeer County
police station/Public Safety building could use
a new parking lot, the asphalt is beginning to
crack.
The community is well lit at night as there are
street lights on the vast majority of all the
streets including back streets.
In 2018 the crime rate was 329 with most of
the crimes committed being theft (City-
data.com, 2019)
The population density was 8,621 as of July
2018 (United States Census Bureau, 2019).
The majority of the residents are middle class/
working class.
As of August 2019 the unemployment rate for
Lapeer County was 4.8% (Federal Reserve
Bank, 2019).
As of 2013-2017 high school graduate or higher
88.5%; bachelor's degree or higher 13.7%
(United States Census Bureau, 2019).

Education Public Schools? Private schools? Libraries?
Educational services for special populations (pregnant
teens, developmentally disabled children) Nearest
college or trade school
Economic Major industry and business? Banks, savings and
loans, credit unions, advance pay, major occupations,
general socioeconomic status of population, median
income, percent of population below poverty level
Marriage rate: 11.2 Divorce rate: 6.0 in 2018
(State of Michigan, 2019).
Public schools: Kids & Company Preschool and
childcare, Lynch Elementary, Turrill Year-Round
Elementary, Lapeer High School, Center for
Innovation, Rolland-Warner 6-7 campus,
Zemmer 8-9 campus, and Lapeer homeschool
partnership
Private schools: Bishop Kelley Catholic School
and St. Paul Lutheran School
Libraries: Lapeer Public Library
Educational Services for special populations:
Lapeer Community schools special education
continuum of programs and services;
Programs- early childhood program, resource
room, program, self-contained classroom for
cognitive and emotional impairments; Ancillary
Services- teacher consultant, speech/language,
social work, school psychology, physical
therapy, occupational therapy, visually
impaired, hearing impaired, orientation and
mobility, and homebound services
Nearest College: Mott Community College
Major Industry and business: McLaren Lapeer
regional hospital (800-900), Lapeer
Community schools (600-700), Kamax (400-
500), Lapeer Plating and Plastics Inc.(400-500),
County of Lapeer (300-400), Walmart (300-
400). (Lapeer Development Corporation, 2016).
Banks: PNC, Chase, Lakestone
 Credit unions: Dort Federal, Elga
Major occupations: Manufacturing, Health care
& Social assistance, and Retail Trade (Data USA,
n.d.)
Median income: As of 2013-2017 $34,212
(United States Census Bureau, 2019).
Percent of population below poverty level:
21.5% (United States Census Bureau, 2019).

References
City-data.com. (2019). Crime rate in lapeer, michigan: Murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law
enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Lapeer-Michigan.html

Data USA. (2018). Lapeer county, mi. Retrieved from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lapeer-county-mi/#about

Federal Reserve Bank. (2019). Unemployment rate in lapeer county, mi. Retrieved from
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MILAPE5URN

Lapeer Development Corporation. (2016). Business/industry demographics. Retrieved from

http://www.lapeerdevelopment.com/doing_business/major_employers.php

State of Michigan. (2019). Marriage and divorce numbers and rates by county of occurrence, Michigan residents, 2018. Retrieved
from https://www.mdch.state.mi.us/osr/marriage/MxDivCounty.asp?MType=2

State of Michigan. (2017). Lapeer county health department health statistics tables. Retrieved from
https://www.mdch.state.mi.us/osr/chi/FullTableList.asp?REGIONtype=2&regioncode=26

United States Census Bureau. (2019). Quick facts: Lapeer city, michigan. Retrieved from
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/lapeercitymichigan