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2009 Downtown Neighborhood Survey Results*

For this survey, the Downtown BID made a special effort to reach out to the resident community. Accordingly, the resident participation rate was way up: of 911 respondents, 638 (70%) were Downtown residents.

Continuity

Once again the largest proportion of respondents fell into the 25 to 34 age range (42%), and reported household incomes between $150,000 and $300,000 (29%). For the third consecutive year, residents cited grocery stores as the type of retail they would most like to see added to Downtown.

A few categories reflected remarkable year-over-year improvement. With the 2008 arrival of the CityVista Safeway, the proportion of residents doing their grocery shopping Downtown jumped from 10% to 56%, and the 2009 results indicate a further increase to 63%. Neighborhood perceptions of safety, cleanliness, noise and homelessness have also improved consistently: since 2007, assessments of each of these factors have grown more positive each year.

Demographics

Downtown residents are remarkably well educated with 95% of respondents reporting undergraduate or graduate degrees. 63% of total respondents have household incomes of more than $100,000 with 37% of total respondents having incomes of $150,000 or more.

Neighborhood Perceptions

• A majority of respondents indicated that cultural and entertainment amenities, and restaurants were highly important factors. 
• 71% of respondents indicated that transportation access was a highly important factor in their decision to live Downtown.
• Slightly under one-half considered proximity to work to be highly important.
• Respondents cited homelessness as the most pressing neighborhood concern, with 57% rating it most in need of improvement.
• 30% of respondents rated safety as their second highest concern.

Shopping Preferences

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56% of Downtown residents shop for groceries Downtown, 25% shop for groceries elsewhere in DC, and 16% travel to Virginia. Nearly two-thirds of Downtown households spend more than $100 a week on groceries. 51% of Downtown residents spend the majority of their grocery dollars at Safeway. Whole Foods and Harris Teeter are the second and third most popular grocery stores, respectively. 20% of Downtown residents visit the Penn Quarter Farmers’ Market only once a year and 32% have never visited the market. This represents a growth opportunity for the market

When shopping for non-grocery, non-auto items, two-thirds of residents usually leave the Downtown neighborhood. 35% of residents travel to Virginia to purchase these items, indicating a need for more fashion retail and shoppers’ goods in both Downtown and the District of Columbia. Residents overwhelmingly chose grocery/food retail as the most desired category of Downtown retail.

Awareness of Sponsoring Organizations

• 61% of respondents are aware of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) and 14% have attended a DNA meeting.
• 69% of respondents are aware of the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) and the organization’s work throughout the neighborhood. 77% supported residential buildings joining the BID if the BID offered to increase services.

* In November 2009, the BID, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Penn Quarter Association sponsored the third annual Downtown Neighborhood Survey. Those who live and work Downtown were asked to respond.

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