What you described sounds familiar. I live in a small neighborhood that is nestled between a huge cemetery, a large hospital and the commercial zones of an in-city highway. We have condos, the apartments i live in, another apt building that is nearly complete and an 'assisted housing' complex.
This is Seattle, so maybe the problems aren't AS bad, but what problems this neighborhood does have (aside from an occasional party where someone talks loud in the parking lot after leaving) come from that low income housing.
Just the other day I had to tell these girls to move from the drive-way of the parking lot not only because it was dangerous but they were jumping rope and making noise. And I had 10 year old girls trying to defend their actions and talking back (saying people from our complex go over there, LOL.) MOVE!
All during the summer I had to eject them for coming into the pool and making a large amount of noise while being there. Once should have been enough, but you have to threaten them with the police to get them to stop. At least that is somewhat minor in comparison.
We had a shootout on that street between two people and have had other incidents, like one where police blocked off the road and were searching for a suspect who'd attempted to hit a cop with his car.
The sad part is, people DO work there (there is a max income but also a minimum) and most of the noise you hear from there is just kids playing outside.
But while the degree of our problems is small in comparison, it just gives you an idea of how bad it must be in the rest of the country.
Do you live by the Yesler Projects?