Exploring the spatiotemporal impact of the Chicago Large Lot Program on incidents of neighborhood crime

This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal impact of the City of Chicago’s Large Lot Program on incidents of neighborhood crime. The results suggest that property and drug crimes statistically significantly decreased from 2013 through 2017 in areas within 500 feet of lots sold in the program’s 2014 pilot program. Property crimes included reported arsons, burglaries, criminal damages, criminal trespassing, motor vehicle thefts, and thefts. Drug crimes included reported narcotics crimes. The study also suggests that violent crimes decreased from 2013-2017 but that the decrease was not statistically-significant. Violent crimes included reported assaults, criminal sexual assaults, homicides, human trafficking, kidnappings, robberies, and sex offenses. The analysis was conducted by using the ESRI ArcGIS emerging hot spot analysis and optimized hot spot analysis tools.Department of Urban Plannin