The East Side Community of Choice Resident Quality of Life Survey 2013 & 2016
In 2013, ESNDC implemented the Community of Choice Initiative.
The strategy was to concentrate affordable housing production and small business support on a 90 square block area of the East Side adjacent to the Payne and Arcade commercial districts.
In addition to tracking the number of housing units built or rehabbed, commercial projects completed, commercial vacancy rates, and new investment, we decided to start with a residential quality of life survey in 2013 and to then follow up again in 2016.
Undeniably, from an affordable housing and small business investment point of view, the Community of Choice neighborhood has improved significantly. Payne Avenue’s retail vacancy rate went from 28% in 2012 to 10% in 2016. Home prices returned to, then exceeded 2007 levels in 2016. But, what do residents think? As the graphs reveal, residents’ perceptions do not necessarily reflect the economic metrics. Judge for yourself.