Annual survey on downtown and OTR shows improving views

CINCINNATI - An annual survey gauging people’s attitudes toward downtown and Over-the-Rhine mostly found positive trends this year.

The survey – conducted by Downtown Cincinnati Inc. – showed significant progress was made in all categories: Cleanliness and safety, overall impression and multicultural outreach.

Satisfaction with downtown's safety and cleanliness saw improvements by all demographic categories that visited downtown.

Those who strongly or somewhat agreed that downtown is safe rose to 73 percent in 2012, a 10-point increase from 2011.

Likewise, those who found downtown clean rose 8 points, from 70 percent to 78 percent in 2012.

Favorable opinions of downtown also showed improvement by all segments, with 90 percent of total respondents noting a somewhat or extremely positive impression of downtown.

Among the "top five activities" that bring survey respondents to downtown, "parks" made the list for the first time, tied with bars for fifth place.

DCI credited this change due to the openings of an expanded Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine and the new Smale Riverfront Park in The Banks district.

The top five activities, in order, were:

1. Dining

2. Events on Fountain Square

3. Sporting Events

4. Findlay Market

5. Bars and Parks (tie)

This year's survey had two new features: a question gauging opinions of Over-the-Rhine and questions specifically directed at downtown residents.

Of those who indicated they had visited Over-the-Rhine, 83 percent said their opinion of Over-the-Rhine was more favorable now than it had been during the past year.

Downtown residents cited accessibility, social life and an urban lifestyle as reasons for living downtown. Eighty-one percent of those living downtown significantly or somewhat agree that downtown has changed favorably compared to a year ago.

The web-based survey, conducted Aug. 20-Oct. 8, was completed by 1,712 people. A copy of the survey results can be downloaded here .

Survey participants were 62 percent female, and 38 percent male. Also, 36 percent work downtown.

Respondents were 19 percent African American, 9 percent Hispanic, 3 percent Asian, 1% other and 68 percent Caucasian.

Additionally, 63 percent of respondents were in the 25-to-54 age range, and 64 percent earn household incomes of $50,000 or more.

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. is a nonprofit business organization with a mission to promote and improve the metropolitan center.

The survey is an annual project of DCI, part of its efforts to track data that reflects downtown's economic, business and residential development.

Results help decide on DCI's work plan and performance measures.

What do you think about downtown and Over-the-Rhine? Comment below.