The Case Against
Plywood
In the housing industry we use the word blight on a minute
by minute basis. How can we fight it,
how can we stop it, how can we solve it?
We discuss the harmful consequences of squatting and why plywood is
antithetical to neighborhood stabilization.
And we know that these boarded up properties are a breeding ground for
crime. Unfortunately, the issue of crime
has become more pressing and dangerous. There
are documented incidents around the Nation of victims being lured, or worse forced
into properties boarded with plywood. Just this week in my hometown of
Cleveland, Ohio three young girls lost their lives in a vacant home where
plywood covered the windows. This year
America cheered as three women reclaimed their lives after being held captive
in a home shielded by plywood for a decade.
Under these circumstances plywood is an accomplice, implicit
in the death of these women. The fact
that we still use this material to “secure” vacant homes is dangerous and
arguably negligent when the technology exists to prevent unwanted entry and
allow bystanders to see inside vacant homes.
This technology is SecureView.
SecureView is an alternative board-up system that is designed to look like
traditional windows providing clear views inside a home. It is revolutionary way to secure vacant and
abandoned properties without making them appear unoccupied and it is the only
system that allows first responders to see inside in the event of an emergency. Most importantly, SecureView is virtually
unbreakable which means that intruders cannot enter in the first place. Tested on properties in high crime areas with
repeated instances of squatters, SecureView has proven to withstand vandalism
and prevent entry from unauthorized visitors.
If this sounds like a no brainer to you, you are right.
We live in a technology obsessed society where we are always
looking for the next best thing. The way
we protect our communities should not be any different. We can do better than
plywood and we have to do better.
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