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The City currently has two bicycle officers who have been very effective
<br />in getting to know the business owners and residents in the area. The com-
<br />munication between residents, business owners and the officers has improved
<br />the reporting of suspicious activities, and has been critical in crime preven-
<br />tion. The number of officers becomes less important as the "eyes and ears"
<br />of the community help the police department utilize their patrol personnel
<br />more efficiently. It is generally perceived that there has been a noticeable
<br />drop-off in the number of panhandlers in the Downtown, largely due to the
<br />presence of the bicycle officers.
<br />Home values
<br />Between 1996 and 1998, median home values in San Leandro have out-
<br />paced the median home prices County-wide. San Leandro climbed 22% in
<br />just two years, whereas Alameda County as a whole climbed 19%.
<br />Median Home Prices in Alameda County*
<br />City 4th Qtr. 96 4th Qtr. 97 4th Qtr. 98 Change: 96-97 Change: 97-98 Change: 96-98
<br />Alameda 225,000 249,500 275,000 10.9% 10.2% 22.2%
<br />Albany 227,500 245,000 275,000 7.7% 12.2% 20.9%
<br />Berkeley 250,000 264,000 300,000 5.6% 13.6% 20.0%
<br />Dublin 240,000 224,500 248,750 -6.5% 10.8% 3.6%
<br />Fremont 223,000 255,000 270,000 14.3% 5.9% 21.1%
<br />Hayward 159,750 171,000 184,000 7.0% 7.6% 15.2%
<br />Livermore 187,000 206,000 228,000 10.2% 10.7% 21.9%
<br />Newark 189,500 214,000 239,000 12.9% 11.7% 26.1%
<br />Oakland 145,250 169,500 173,000 16.7% 2.1% 19.1%
<br />Pleasanton 279,250 285,000 337,750 2.1% 18.5% 20.9%
<br />San Leandro 154,500 165,000 188,500 6.8% 14.2% 22.0%
<br />Union City 197,750 220,000 239,000 11.3% 8.6% 20.9%
<br />All Cities 2,478,500 2,668,500 2,958,000 7.7% 10.8% 19.3%
<br />*Source: California Association of Realtors
<br />Increase in Elementary Student Population
<br />During the last few years, there has been tremendous migration of fami-
<br />lies with children into the San Leandro Unified School District (Source:
<br />"Demographic Trends and Forecasts," San Leandro Unified School District,
<br />February 12, 1999). There are several possible reasons for the new pattern,
<br />including the improvement of the local economy, an improvement of the
<br />School District's reputation and class size reduction, all resulting in more
<br />people with children moving to San Leandro.
<br />While new housing does not account for many of the new students enter-
<br />ing San Leandro, it is worth noting that both the Heron Bay and Cherry
<br />City developments, which will collectively bring in over 950 housing units
<br />San Leandro Downtown Plan & Urban Design Guidelines Oetober2000 page 17
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