The use of present tense in that sentence is deliberate. When the narrator speaks of his neighborhood, it's a situation that is "present" to him, as he still lives there and things are currently as he is describing them. It's a bit experimental, as I wanted a fresh way to bring the "modern day-present time" setting feel into the story quickly, without having to write a long drawn out background (as a drabble wouldn't allow me).

I'm sure if I was writing a longer story, I'd go about it much differently. ^_^

Thanks for your comments!