Updates from the Alley

April 19th, 2010

This past fall I bought a home. I bought it in a “gentrifying” area of St. Louis (read: only 50% sketchy). Why would I do this? I couldn’t help it! It’s #73 on Stuff White People Like!

I love my house but there is the occasional disturbance that does occur mainly in the form of loud neighbors and speeding cars. Those are things I can deal with. Now maybe it’s the spring weather but in the past month there have been some extra sketchy things going on in the alley behind my house. My backyard opens directly to the alley. No fence, no garage, nothing. Sketchy.

Here’s the summary:

1. I come home for lunch one day to let my dog out. As I walk outside I see an abandoned car, crime scene tape, and about 30 police officers standing around. Not the most encouraging scene. After talking to a detective I determined that the guy who caused this accident which killed a police officer decided to ditch his car in my backyard. In MY backyard. Why? What are the odds? I’m in the middle of the block! Luckily the guy was caught and will probably be serving 25 years for 2nd degree murder.

2. Last Wednesday I came home around 9pm and once again let the dog out. This time there’s a police car in the alley directly behind my home and 4-5 officers with flashlights and guns drawn searching around. Looking in dumpsters, behind fences, under decks, etc. Apparently looking for a “black male with dreadlocks.” A police helicopter hovered over my neighborhood for at least 30 minutes. I haven’t 100% been able to determine what was going on but I think a woman was robbed about a mile away and the guy must’ve somehow found his way to my ‘hood. And my alley apparently!
3. Jump to yesterday. Sunday. This is much less scandalous but still not something I would see living in the suburbs. I was sitting in my kitchen enjoying my weekly Mimosa when I look outside to see a firefighter at the home diagonal to mine across the alley. I take a walk outside and I guess there was some kind of small kitchen fire because there are firefighters on a ladder breaking out windows for ventilation and smoke billowing (ok not quite billowing) into the air.

Needless to say my top priority this spring/summer is garage and fence. I already have the bids in I just need to secure some financing. City living at it’s finest! Now where’s that gentrification?