Angie's List launched new service 'Band of Neighbors' in Cleveland to help communication

CLEVELAND - Angie's List members were asked how well they knew their neighbors, and members reported they knew only 25 percent or fewer of them.

In response to a need for better neighborhood communication, Angie's List founder Angie Hicks created a new online forum called "Band of Neighbors."

It's a private forum that is set be launched in Cleveland.

The online forum allows residents to share information on neighborhood issues, alert each other to crime and safety problems, and get to know the people in their neighborhood in a new way.

Current topics of conversation range from problems caused by vacant homes, trash collection issues, and motorists who speed through neighborhood streets.

“Angie’s List is already the place where Ohio consumers go to get recommendations from each other for local services. It only makes sense that we provide them an opportunity to communicate with each other about everything else relevant to their neighborhood,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks.

“The overwhelming majority went on to say they would feel safer in their home if they knew more of the people around them,” Hicks said.

Angie's List support teams report Band of Neighbors is designed to facilitate the type of unique support that only neighbors can provide to each other, content posted on the forums is private and only available for those neighbors with proof of residence.

Consumers can check out the service and log in, by going to the Band of Neighbors website.

Meanwhile, NewsChannel5 is also trying to spark volunteerism, and better neighborhood communication, when it comes to dealing with vacant and condemned properties.

We're inviting residents to report nuisance properties through our Building Better Neighborhood initiative.

Just send us pictures and information on vacant homes in your neighborhood and we'll forward the information to your city building department, in an effort to move the properties to progress.

We are also giving residents information on how they can volunteer in their neighborhoods to make them better. Those interested in starting a volunteer effort in their neighborhood should contact Hands on Northeast Ohio for more information.