A neighborhood in the Quad Cities saw a drastic turnaround from once being crime-ridden.

It’s now safe for kids and families to play.

It’s part of a more than decade-long effort in Goose Creek Heights by residents, property owners and police.

Longtime resident Cathy Wilson-Longoria said, “We actually won a city award for the number one best neighborhood in Davenport.”

Coming a long way…

“We used to be the bottom of the list,” added Wilson-Longoria. 

It’s a place longtime resident Cathy Wilson-Longoria told Local Four News once felt forgotten.

She said, “It wasn’t safe at all. There were guns, shootings, drug deals, stabbings, riots, it was routine.”

That’s not a common sight now in Goose Creek Heights. 

“Ten years ago, there were over 700 calls for service in this neighborhood, now it’s around 100,” said the owner of Summer Ridge Apartment Homes Paul Forkeotes.

It was because of efforts by residents like Wilson-Longoria, who has lived in the north Davenport neighborhood more than 30 years, coming together to root out what ruined living there.

“I didn’t intend to move, so I started banding together with the neighborhood watch group,” said Wilson-Longoria.

When she started, she was raising her kids in the area and wanted a better place for them to grow up. 

But for Wilson-Longoria, to fully open the door to transformation, there was one hump to get over.

She said, “Difficult because we had a lot of landlords out here with a lot of apartment complexes and the homeowners and it was kind of like a bitter dispute between the two sides.”

It was until she said Paul Forkeotes moved in and got involved with their effort. 

Forkeotes said, “The strategy that we had when we came into this neighborhood was to buy all the buildings and put in all under one company. One apartment complex.”

It was 11 years ago this November that Forkeotes purchased the first cluster becoming Summer Ridge Apartment Homes.

Forkeotes said, “I had multiple buildings that were boarded up.”

It took eight years to finish acquiring and repairing its now 35 buildings. 

He said it simplifies efforts when there is one general rental criteria and a set standard for what tenants are accepted. 

He’s also added background checks on tenants and extra eyes.

“Security camera as a tool to help clean up the neighborhood and stabling,” said Forkeotes.

And it also involved working closely with those with a badge. 

Davenport Police NETS Unit Sgt. Andrew Harris said, “The relationship that we have with Summer Ridge and the Goose Creek community is definitely one of the best relationships that we have with a neighborhood in Davenport.”

Davenport Officer Scott Fuller helped to lead the police efforts in Goose Creek.
It was also the starting point for Davenport Police’s Neighborhoods Energized to Succeed or NETS Unit.

“Scott and the first few NETs officers right there, they established trust, which is so important with every relationship that we have,” said Sgt. Harris. 

But now at the end of this year.

Wilson-Longoria said, “Totally shocked when we heard.”

That era is coming to a close. 

Forkeotes said, “It’s always good to know when your time is up.”

Officer Fuller is set to retire, and Forkeotes is in the process of selling Summer Ridge. 

For Wilson-Longoria, it’s goodbye with a bit of uncertainty. 

She said, “Fear and trepidation of how things are going to change and go on.”

But for her and others, she said now that things are good.   

Wilson-Longoria said, “Have to stay involved, and that’s the number one thing. Literally, to stay and be involved.”

That’s the only way they’ll get better.

The sale of Summer Ridge is expected to be completed next month.

It’s being sold to a Coralville, Iowa investor.