A Survey of Residents' Perceptions of the Effect of Large-Scale Economic Developments on Perceived Safety, Violence, and Economic Benefits.
BACKGROUND
Emerging research highlights the promise of community- and policy-level strategies in preventing youth violence. Large-scale economic developments, such as sports and entertainment arenas and casinos, may improve the living conditions, economics, public health, and overall wellbeing of area residents and may influence rates of violence within communities.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of community economic development efforts on neighborhood residents' perceptions on violence, safety, and economic benefits.


METHODS
Telephone survey in 2011 using a listed sample of randomly selected numbers in six Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Descriptive analyses examined measures of perceived violence and safety and economic benefit. Responses were compared across neighborhoods using chi-square tests for multiple comparisons. Survey results were compared to census and police data.


RESULTS
Residents in neighborhoods with the large-scale economic developments reported more casino-specific and arena-specific economic benefits. However, 42% of participants in the neighborhood with the entertainment arena felt there was an increase in crime, and 29% of respondents from the neighborhood with the casino felt there was an increase. In contrast, crime decreased in both neighborhoods.


CONCLUSIONS
Large-scale economic developments have a direct influence on the perception of violence, despite actual violence rates.
Epidemiology Data Center, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Anthony
A
Fabio
Epidemiology Data Center, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Ruth
R
Geller
Epidemiology Data Center, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Michael
M
Bazaco
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Todd M
TM
Bear
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Abigail L
AL
Foulds
Epidemiology Data Center, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Jessica
J
Duell
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Ravi
R
Sharma
D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D057217:Economic Development; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D014754:Violence