Residents of neighborhoods along Rochester’s North Clinton Avenue — as well as city officials and the police department — have taken a stand against a surge of heroin use in the area. Several empty lots along North Clinton have been the target of extensive clean-up efforts to increase the visibility of users and create a safer environment for residents. The effort is being supported by Project HOPE, a neighborhood revitalization project created by Ibero-American Development Corp. with funding from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.
Rochester City Police Capt. Kevin Costello confronts a heroin user outside an unoccupied residence on Sullivan Street during a foot patrol of the North Clinton neighborhood Dec. 1.
Residents in the North Clinton neighborhoods have made their fight against crime and drug use in the area known with signs outside of their homes.
Orange caps used to cover needles litter the ground near in a lot near North Clinton Avenue.
Needles litter the ground in one of the lots prior to the clean-up. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Melendez)
A wall erected by the city near Princeton Street aims to limit the foot traffic in areas where there is heavy heroin use.
Rochester City Police Capt. Kevin Costello walks down North Clinton Avenue, an area that sees heavy heroin use.
Don Samuel Torres Park is blocked off to prevent excessive drug use in the area.
A barrier erected by the city aims to prevent cars from pulling over and interacting with drug dealers.
Rochester City Police Capt. Kevin Costello looks over one of the cleaned–up lots near North Clinton Avenue.
A used needle is discarded in a vacant lot near North Clinton Avenue.
The condition of one of the lots targeted by the clean-up is shown earlier this year. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Melendez)
The condition of one of the lots targeted by the clean-up is shown earlier this year. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Melendez)
