Increase in Safety:
Alley greens increase neighborhood and block safety. The alley gating and greening process brings residents together, therefore increasing resident interactions and neighborliness; residents who know each other are more likely to lookout for each other’s homes and safety. Additionally, because the alley is gated where it meets the street, only residents of the block, emergency services, and utility companies have access to the alley; decreasing the likelihood of crime and loitering.
Increase in Property Value:
After alley gating and greening, properties abutting alley greens tend to increase in value by 5% to 15%. As a result, these blocks with alley greens attract new homeowners and therefore decrease the number of vacant and abandoned houses in the area. In addition, higher home values increase real estate tax revenues, benefiting the entire community.
Strengthens social bonds between neighbors:
Residents of homes abutting alley greens develop strong relationships while working and living together with the new community space. Because these community spaces are rare amenities, residents are less likely to leave because the unique living experience is difficult to duplicate elsewhere; minimal turnover leads to further social cohesion and neighborhood stability. Routine clean-up and maintenance projects are opportunities for neighbors to get together and share ideas on the future of their alley green while building cohesion as a block.
Vehicle for Civic Engagement:
Residents involved in alley gating and greening initiatives take on leadership roles to organize fellow neighbors. The alley gating and greening projects often encourage residents to take on leadership roles throughout the neighborhood and remain civically engaged.
Sanitation Benefits:
Illegal dumping and littering by non-block residents is less likely because only residents of the block, utility companies, and emergency services have access to the gated and greened alley. Additionally, residents’ increased sense of ownership and pride in the gated and greened alley tends to result in better maintenance and sanitation in the space.
Health Benefits:
Alley greens can lead to positive health outcomes for both adults and children. These community spaces can provide a safe place for children to play outdoors improving mental health and reducing childhood obesity. Adults use the alley green as place to relax and socialize with neighbors also improving residents’ mental health.
Environmental Benefits of Greening:
Alley greens are beneficial to the environment. Whether the alley is lined with planters or concrete is removed and replaced with grass and trees, green plants provide clean air to the city of Baltimore. The increased tree cover reduces elevated temperatures in the summer therefore reducing energy consumption and electric bills for air conditioning. Additionally, the removal of concrete reduces toxic storm water run-off into the Chesapeake Bay. Finally, alley greens can be sources of urban agriculture providing food security for residents.
