Downtown Visioning Survey:

Transcription

1 Downtown Visioning Survey: Results October

2 Who Participated? 2

3 Who Participated: Demographics Good spread of respondents age 25 and up Few responses from people under age 25 Over 90% of respondents were Bristol Residents 3

4 Who Participated: Housing Nearly 80% of respondents live in single-family homes Compares to about 60% of all Bristol residents 80.5% of respondents own their own home Compares to about 68% of all Bristol residents 4

5 Who Participated: Occupation Answer Options Response Response Percent Count Retired or Stay-at-Home Parent 14.9% 79 Management, Business, or Finance 14.5% 77 Professional Services (Architect, Engineer, Lawyer, Scientist, Doctor, etc.) 10.0% 53 Educational Services (Teacher, Support Services, etc.) 8.9% 47 Other (please specify) 8.1% 43 Office and Administrative Support 7.5% 40 Government 7.3% 39 Health Care (Nurse, Health Aide, Technician) 6.2% 33 Media and Entertainment 4.9% 26 Entrepreneur or Business Owner 4.7% 25 Manufacturing 4.0% 21 Retail, Sales, or Food Service 3.6% 19 Unemployed 1.9% 10 Student 1.7% 9 Construction 0.9% 5 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 0.9% 5 answered question skipped question

6 How do we Best Reach the Community? 6

7 What is our Existing and Potential Market? 7

8 What is Most Important to a Successful Downtown? Most Important Somewhat Important Least Important Average Score Average score is a weighted average calculated using the weights below: First 5 points Second 4 points Third 3 points Fourth 2 points Fifth 1 point Not picked 0 points 8

9 Shopping Patterns: Today Where do you go to Purchase the Following Items? Good or Service Most Popular 2nd Most Popular 3rd Most Popular Clothing West Farms Mall Area (47.5%) Online (38.7%) Route 6 Bristol (24.0%) Groceries Route 6 Bristol (70.9%) Other Parts of Bristol (25.1%) Queen Street Southington (9.4%) Pharmacy Route 6 Bristol (66.3%) Other Parts of Bristol (21.2%) Downtown Bristol (10.5%) Take-out food Route 6 Bristol (56.8%) Other Parts of Bristol (40.7%) Queen Street Southington (14.8%) Restaurant Other (35.0%) Queen Street Southington (30.3%) Other Parts of Bristol (30.3%) Hardware and home improvement Route 6 Bristol (83.0%) Queen Street Southington (11.8%) Other (10.5%) Furniture and home decor Queen Street Southington 36.9%) Other (33.8%) Online (19.4%) Bank or ATM Route 6 Bristol (47.0%) Other Parts of Bristol (27.1%) Downtown Bristol (23.8%) Post Office Downtown Bristol (69.7%) Other Parts of Bristol (15.7%) Other (11.9%) Medical services Other Parts of Bristol (44.3%) Other (29.6%) Route 6 Bristol (28.4%) Professional services (salon, tax prep, etc. Other (31.9%) Route 6 Bristol (28.9%) Other Parts of Bristol (28.6%) Commercial recreation or fitness center Other Parts of Bristol (44.3%) Other (30.6%) Route 6 Bristol (29.4%) Top Other Destinations Include: Plainville, Farmington, West Hartford Center The things people want the most in Downtown Bristol (retail and restaurants) are most frequently done on Route 6, the West Farms Mall area, Queen Street, and other parts of Bristol 9

10 Shopping Patterns: Potential Capture If Downtown Bristol contained a greater variety of stores and more options to buy the following items or services, would you purchase them there? 10

11 When You Visit Downtown Bristol, How Do You Usually Get There? A vast majority of respondents drive when visiting Downtown Bristol Parking is crucial! 11

12 What Time of Day do you Visit Downtown? Respondents are more likely to go Downtown on Weekdays than on Weekends Very few respondents visit Downtown at night (after 9 p.m.) 12

13 How Often do You Do the Following Activities in Downtown Bristol? Over 40% of respondents run errands Downtown at least a few times per month About 25% of respondents go out to eat in Downtown at least a few times per month 13

14 Please Rate the Following Statements about Downtown Bristol 14

15 Please Rate the Convenience of the Following Downtown Features 15

16 Please Rate the Following Statements about the direction Downtown Bristol is Heading 16

17 What do You Like about Downtown Bristol? Most Liked: Category # of Responses Local businesses 51 Historic buildings 34 Streetscaping 20 The Library 9 Farmers market 8 Centralized civic buildings 8 Individual respondents were classified into generalized categories 17

18 What do You Dislike about Downtown Bristol? Most Disliked: Category # of Responses Not enough things to do 156 Negative perceptions of surrounding neighborhoods 68 Long delays in redevelopment 34 Not pedestrian friendly 13 Lack of Public Transit infrastructure 5 Individual respondents were classified into generalized categories 18

19 Visual Preferences Survey 19

20 What is the Preferred Density for Downtown Bristol? The Right Density: 73.4% Too Dense: 54.9% Not Dense Enough: 85.1% PREFERRED 20

21 What is the Preferred Building Style for Downtown Bristol? Least Favorite Designs 23.6% Favorite 11.1% Favorite 4.4% Favorite 32.9% Favorite 30.4% Favorite Favorite Designs 21

22 What is the Preferred Type of Public Space for Downtown Bristol? Favorite Designs 52.6% Favorite 23.3% Favorite 14.6% Favorite 3.4% Favorite 7.8% Favorite Least Favorite Designs 22

23 What is the Preferred Type of Streetscape for Downtown Bristol? Favorite Designs 2.2% Favorite 40.3% Favorite 34.2% Favorite 18.7% Favorite 7.8% Favorite 23

24 What is the Preferred Type of On Street Parking? 21.8% Favorite 68.7% Favorite 9.4% Favorite 24

25 What is the Preferred Type of Off-Street Parking? 48.7% Favorite 43.4% Favorite Split Opinions slightly more people would prefer to park in a surface lot 25

26 Takeaways Strong desire by the community to see something better on the Centre Square site People like the existing small businesses, historic buildings, and streetscaping People dislike the lack of things to do Downtown Programming and hosting events on the Centre Square site is an opportunity to change people s perceptions about Downtown People want to go out to eat or shop downtown but they need greater variety first City can make investments in infrastructure and amenities that encourage this type of development 26

27 Takeaways Visual Preferences: Buildings - Respondents preferred traditional, medium scale buildings (similar to what exists on Main Street and North Main Street) Public Space - Public plaza space is most desired green space second most desired. Active public spaces such as playgrounds and athletic facilities were the least desired Streetscapes Street trees, planters, and outdoor space for dining was preferred (Similar to streetscape on Main Street and North Main Street) Parking angled parking preferred on-street. Community divided on off-street parking 27