Located close to Sheffield High School, Colbert Square Apartments have been a fixture in north-central Sheffield since 1950. Over the years, as the desirability of the apartments decreased, crime began to do the opposite. After one particular notorious shooting in late 2008, a group of residents asked the city council to take steps to clean up the area, even if it meant razing the large complex.
Those who have resided in the low-rent units have described the apartments as small, smelly, smoke stained, and a home to vermin of various kinds. While these apartments hardly seem desirable in themselves, the rent (currently $285.00/month according to Apartment Finder) is a huge draw to those facing financial hardships for whatever reason.
Then in October 2013, a violent crime set the whole town's nerves on edge. From Shoalanda Speaks blogs:
At the third apartment, the man asked for Debbie. When told there was no Debbie there, the African-American, said to be in his mid to late twenties, forced his way into the apartment and raped the 54 year-old tenant. The victim managed to strike the intruder with a heavy ashtray, leaving a large gash on his forehead.
As the rapist left the modest apartment where units rent from $250.00 to $285.00 a month (in red), he took his victim's cell phone and vehicle. Just six blocks away at the intersection of York Terrace and Almon Street (in blue), the intruder abandoned the Ford Taurus and presumably made his way from there on foot.
