Jun 25, 2006 11:12 pm US/Central
Developers Ponder 'Sex Offender-Free' Communities
by Brooke Richie
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Some Texas entrepreneurs are coming up with solutions to protect North Texas neighborhoods from sex offenders. Their plan includes banning registered sex offenders from buying homes in certain subdivisions.
In recent months, the cities of Carrollton and Arlington have taken drastic steps to keep registered sex offenders away from children. Now some private companies want to do the same.
The concept is "Sex Offender-Free" communities. Both a Lubbock-based housing developer and a North Texas businessman are trying to create them.
"We are a resource for families looking for homes that don't have registered sex offenders nearby," says Taylor Goodman, president of blockwatcher.com, which was launched on June 16. The site lists homes for sale that don't have registered sex offenders living nearby. He's partnered with the National Alert Registry and with real estate developer I & S Investments in West Texas. I & S prohibits registered sex offenders from living in its subdivisions. The owner says they hope to break ground in Dallas by early next year.
"It's a false sense of security to believe that where you live, if it's restricted, is going to protect you," says Maria Molett, a sex offender treatment provider. "It's not."
Critics say the danger is in becoming too comfortable. They also say these restrictions will dissuade sex offenders from registering. "If we're talking about protecting the community," says Molett, "the more restrictive these rules are, the less people are going to cooperate with them."
Taylor Goodman says he understands those concerns. He has a disclaimer on his Web site to release realtors from liability. But he believes these new protections are necessary. "It's a blatant omission that this is not being offered for families," argues Goodman. "We don't claim to be the end all and be all. It's at least a good start."
I & S Investments already has sex offender-free subdivisions in Lubbock and in Kansas. The owner tells us he believes their policy has boosted their sales by at least three to four times.
(CBS 11 News)
