By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
CARRBORO – The largely immigrant resident population at Abbey Court Apartments has certainly faced its share of obstacles over the years, from conflicts with management over parking issues and towed cars to disagreements regarding a nearby day-laborer station where workers, many from the complex’s immigrant community, wait to be picked up for construction jobs. But recently, issues have come from within the resident community, with an average of nearly two calls a day to the police this spring.
From April 1 to May 17, the Carrboro Police Department received 82 calls for assistance at the Jones Ferry Road apartment complex, with complaints ranging from loud music and public intoxication to breaking and entering and assault.
“It gets the most attention of any piece of property in town,†Carrboro Police Capt. J.G. Booker said. “It’s a large apartment complex, and a lot of what we get is more like your nuisance type calls for service.
“You’re just seeing drinking and hooting and hollering and things like that.â€
Abbey Court residents have complained to police, but many of the complaints have to do with broken rules, not law breaking, Booker said, and because the complex is private property, there is little the police can do unless people are breaking the law.
“There’s a lot of difference in enforcing rules and enforcing the law,†he said. “You can come to us until the cows come home and say things are out of whack, but unless we’ve got a violation of the law … we’re not going to step off sides on that. We’re going to follow the law. We’re not going to violate somebody’s rights.â€
To complicate matters, there are about 40 different property owners of the units at Abbey Court, Booker said.
“Where there’s that many, it’s hard to gain control,†he said. “I’m sure it’s frustrating if you live out there.â€
For the past month, Abbey Court management has employed off-duty Carrboro police officers to enforce the complex’s rules.
“It looks like it’s starting to take some effect,†Booker said, adding that the complex had previously employed Carrboro police officers in a similar effort. “Once we leave and the word gets out, then folks come back out.â€
In addition, the department’s community services division is planning to locate a satellite police office on Abbey Court property and is working with the Human Rights Center at the complex to launch a number of different programs to get the community involved.
Roy Tripp, community services officer with the Carrboro Police, said he hopes to get the plans worked out for the satellite office by the end of the month.
“We’re hoping to work in conjunction with all the groups that are there … and make it a better place for everyone,†he said. With the office located at the complex, Tripp said officers will be able to maintain a steadier relationship with members of the community and get a better sense of what is going on there.
“Ninety-five percent of the people that are there are good folks. They deserve a better quality of life than what they’re getting,†Tripp said.
Judith Blau, director of the Human Rights Center, which is located at Abbey Court, said that despite the complaints the situation at the apartment complex is in fact improving.
The center runs a number of programs at the complex, including English as a second language classes, computer classes and after-school programs. Programs are tailored to the diverse population of Abbey Court residents, which includes many Latinos and Burmese refugees.
“Everything is getting better and better in spite of the terrible economy,†Blau said. She attributed the incidents to the poor economy and lack of day labor as well as to outside residents coming through the complex.
Through the center’s efforts, Blau said she hopes to bring the communities together and make people feel included, and thus improve the overall situation.
“The drinking continues; the social networks are getting better.†And, she said, while the economy’s not getting better, “You can’t tell at all from the little kids who come [to the after-school program] Monday through Thursday. They’re so happy and so responsive.â€