It is a mixed working class neighborhood just South of Downtown Cleveland. It is NOT gentrified like Ohio City or Tremont, but it is not a terrible neighborhood. It is mostly Latino, primarily Puerto Rican. It is no more anti-police than any other working class neighborhood..
This is an inner city neighborhood. the houses are literally on top of each other. They are NOT row houses, but in many instances are less than five feet apart. Much of the parking in this area is street parking or of an alley.
Cleveland is one of the most densely populated cities in the country, even after losing 40% of it’s population to the suburbs in the past fifty years. Even in West Park where I live and we have no boarded up or vacant homes, it is tight. I have neighbors houses 10’ on either side of my home and have close to fifty thousand people in my neighborhood that encompasses only a few square miles. The entire City is less than 75 Square Miles. That includes the massive industrial areas of the near East and West sides and the entire ‘Working Flats’ area of the Cuyahoga River Valley.
That is what makes this story even more incredible. How the Heck did this guy hide three women and one child in a 100+ year old home of no more than 1200 SQ’?
He was out and about. He was KNOWN to the neighbors, He had a job. He went to neighborhood events and cook outs. It is entirely strange and unbelievable!
These are the type of crimes for which the death penalty should be expanded. Murder and treason not enough.