There are studies that show tha neighborhoods or villages that have less flow through traffic have less crime, higher livibility and more sense of connectedness between neighbors. Armory Park has a number of streets used by people out of the neighborhood to just pass through. This passing through by others is really strangers cutting through.

The more ways in and out and through lessens security and enhances the ''getaway'' by thieves.

There is a way to stop this and it is an extension of the traffic cirlce concept. The traffic circles are to slow down people and that does lessen the through traffic some, but not enough in my opinion. On the two streets outside my window I hear many late night cars, I mean several each night well into the wee hours, and I don't think that many Armory Park people are out partying or working the night shift. If we multiply that by some number for the other streets, well it would be a lot.

The way to cut down on this is to actually take some portions of the street and make them into residential lots or park or both. Take one small stretch of street and block it off for every street that is not a through street. Do it evenly spaced throughout the district. The district gains neighbors, trees, gardens, taxes to the city, and lessens through traffic.

The city could sell these lots to the neighborhood. the neighborhood could resell them at a profit and control their development maybe.. It is an idea that could make money for the city on an ongoing basis and the neighborhood gets more security and some money also.