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<br /> II 17 Iso <br /> I. less desirable to people who would have the ability and inclination to improve their <br /> I~ homes. <br /> - <br /> I. The Working Group made some inquiry to determine to what extent smaller cities <br /> outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan area suffered adverse impacts of sexually oriented <br /> I. businesses. The Working Group was informed by the chiefs of police of Northfield and <br /> Owatonna that neither city had adult bookstores or similar sexually oriented <br /> Ii businesses. Police chiefs in Rochester and Winona stated that sexually oriented <br /> businesses in their communities operate in non-residential areas. In addition, there is <br /> no "concentration" problem.. In Rochester, there are two facilities in a Shopping mall <br /> I. and a single bookstore in a depressed commercial/business neighborhood. The <br /> Winona store is located in a downtown business area. The police chiefs stated that <br /> ~ they had no evidence of increased crime rates in the area adjacent to these facilities. <br /> They had no information as to the effect which these businesses might have on local <br /> \. property values. <br /> Information presented to the Working Group indicates that community impacts of <br /> \ sexually oriented businesses are primarily a function of two variables, proximity to <br /> residential areas and concentration. Property values are directly affected within a small <br /> \ radius of the location of a sexually oriented business. Concentration may compound <br /> depression of property values and may lead to an increase in crime sufficient to change <br /> \ the quality of life and perceived desirability of property in a neighborhood. <br /> The evidence suggests that the impacts of sexually oriented businesses are <br /> , exacerbated when they are located near each other. Police officers testified to the <br /> Working Group, that "vice breeds vice." When sexually oriented businesses have <br /> , multiple uses (Le. theater, bookstore, nude dancing, peep booths), one building can <br /> have the impact of several separate businesses. The Working Group heard testimony <br /> , that concentration of sexually oriented businesses creates a "war zone" which serves <br /> as a magnet for people from other areas who "know" where to find prostitutes and <br /> , sexual entertainment. The presence of bars in the irnmediate vicinity of sexually <br /> oriented businesses also compounds impacts upon the neighborhood. <br /> '. . <br /> , -13- <br /> ~ <br />