Community Input Summary Phase 1: Understanding the Area
Transcript of Community Input Summary Phase 1: Understanding the Area
Contents
• Kickoff engagement overview
• Engagement strategy feedback
• Feedback and themes by topic
• Next steps
Goals
• Understand how the community views the area and what they like and dislike
• Learn what they would like the area to be like in the future
• Identify major issues that need improvement
• Improve engagement strategy
Key Takeaways
• Desire for improvements to commercial corridors, particularly Evans Avenue, with better design, walkability, and shopping, dining, and entertainment options
• Better and safer mobility options for all modes
• More diverse and affordable housing options
• Preserve and improve parks, trails, green spaces, and landscaping
Overview
July - September
• Community kickoff meeting
• Online survey
• Pop-up events
• Intercept events
• Focused engagement
• Stakeholder interviews
• Neighborhood meetings
Community Kickoff Meeting
July 20, 2021
• 128 participants
• Held virtually over Zoom
• Introduced the plan and the process
• Survey questions about likes, dislikes, how the area currently meets residents’ needs, what participants would like the area to be in the future, and how people would like to participate in the process
Online Kickoff Survey
July – September 2021
• 523 participants
• 2,489 comments
• Survey questions about likes, dislikes, how the area currently meets residents’ needs, participants’ vision for the future of the area, and successful engagement
• Comments could be placed on a map
In-Person Engagement
August 2021
• 9 pop-up and intercept events
• 331 participants
• Paper surveys similar to the online survey
• Comments could be placed on a map
Demographics
• 1,400 touchpoints
• 2,960 text comments
• 1,263 map comments
5%
10%
5%
27%
20%
33%
1%
14%
10%
4%
36%
36%
Goldsmith
Indian Creek
University Hills North
Virginia Village
Washington Virginia Vale
Other
Prefer not to answer
Legend
CPD Engagement
Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)
Neighborhood
Demographics
Female55%
Male37%
Non-binary0%
Other1%
Prefer not to respond
7%
Excluded
4%
13%
14%
10%
14%
8%
2%
3%
Excluded
20%
19%
12%
11%
10%
5%
5%
19 oryounger
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80 and over
Prefer not torespond
Legend
CPD Engagement
Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)
Gender
Age
Demographics
Legend
CPD Engagement
Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)
1%
3%
6%
10%
0%
0%
69%
8%
1%
8%
0%
4%
10%
17%
0%
0%
65%
0%
4%
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Multi-racial
Some Other Race/Ethnicity
Prefer not to answer
Race/Ethnicity
Demographics
Legend
CPD Engagement
Near Southeast Totals (ACS 2019)
1%
2%
6%
22%
21%
12%
9%
27%
5%
13%
24%
32%
14%
7%
5%
Less than $10,000
$10,000 - $24,999
$25,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $149,999
$150,000 - $199,999
$200,000 or more
Prefer not to answer
9%
85%
0%
6%
57%
43%
Rent
Own
Other
Prefer not to answer
Rent/OwnIncome
Focused Engagement
August - September 2021
• Outreach to apartment complexes to reach renters, younger, and lower-income residents
• Engagement with students at George Washington High School
Engagement Strategy
• Lays out engagement goals for the Near Southeast Plan
• Describes the methods that will be used to achieve those goals
• Identifies how progress will be tracked
• Draft will be developed with input from steering committee and community
Participation
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Attend in-person
communityworkshops
Attend onlinevirtual meetings
Take onlinesurveys
Take in-personsurveys
Participate infocus groups
Office hours Neighborhoodmeetings
Tours and fieldassessments
Receive emailupdates
Social media Other
How would you like to participate in the process?
Information
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
City website or emails Council officecommunications
Local media Social media Neighborhoodgroup/RNO
Friends/neighbors Fliers/mailers Other
How do you learn about things happening in your neighborhood?
Successful Engagement
Common themes:
• Ensure plan responds to community concerns
• Show how comments are taken into account
• Communicate what is going on with the plan and how people can participate
• Include everyone in the area, and reach new people to the process
• Use a variety of methods and timeframes to communicate and gather input
• Develop a plan that will be implemented and address neighborhood issues
• Build capacity of residents, RNOs, and other neighborhood groups for plan and after
• Build trust with the community that their input matters and the plan is for them
• Create interest, ownership, and community cohesion
• Continue strong engagement on the plan
Organization
Comments have been summarized into top likes, dislikes, and ideas by topic:
• General
• Land use and built form
• Equity and housing
• Mobility
• Quality of life infrastructure
For more details on comment themes, see the October 13, 2021, Steering Committee Presentation
General
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Building design,what future
developmentshould look like,building heights,
etc.
Affordable housing Anti-Displacement(residents people
and localbusinesses);
improving accessto opportunity
Trees, parks, greenspace, andrecreation
Getting around bywalking/rolling, bikeor car; traffic issues
Local businesses,jobs or education
Sustainability,green building
Healthy grocerystores and fresh
food nearby,community gardens
Safety Other
What topics interest you most
Land Use and Built FormTop Likes
• Mix of urban and suburban feel
• Scale and location of the area
Top Dislikes
• Impacts of new development, traffic, loss of green space
• Areas in need of revitalization, Evans corridor
Top Ideas
• Sensible and sustainable growth that preserves what people like
• More mixed-use areas with businesses/services/entertainment options to walk/bike to
HousingHow good are the housing options for each of the following groups, including availability, quality, and affordability?
HousingTop Likes
• Nice homes on large lots
• Quiet neighborhoods
Top Dislikes
• Increases in housing costs
• Lack of affordable housing
• Limited middle-income housing options
Top Ideas
• High quality affordable housing
• Housing assistance
• Housing that will lead to a diverse population
Top Likes
• Easy access to shops/restaurants, downtown/DTC, and highways
• Most essentials can be found in the neighborhood (grocery, pharmacy, etc.)
• Proximity and quality of public schools
Top Dislikes
• Rundown buildings and strip malls along Evans and other corridors
• Lack of gathering places (entertainment, breweries, bars, plazas, etc)
• Increase in homeless population
Top Ideas
• More community gathering places for neighbors to connect
• Walkable goods and services
• Revitalize Evans Ave.
Economy
Top Likes• The central location of neighborhoods and
proximity/accessibility to local amenities and regional destinations like Downtown Denver
• Access to Cherry Creek Trail and ability to walk/bike with family to local parks, including Four Mile Historic Park
Top Dislikes• While there are plenty of sidewalks, the area is generally not
pedestrian friendly when it comes to comfort and safety
• Lack of protected bike lanes and bike signals at intersections and overall safety prevent people from biking
• Evans Avenue, Leetsdale Drive and Colorado Boulevard are dominated by vehicles and major intersections are unsafe
Top Big Ideas• Connect neighborhoods with more pedestrian and bike
infrastructure, and invest in mass transit for the major arterial roads
• More time to cross the street and wider sidewalks with street trees and landscaping to act as a buffer from vehicles
• Less car-centric and more incentive to use alternative modes of transportation
LeetsdaleDrive
Colo. Blvd.
Evans Ave.
Cherry Creek
Mobility
Quality of Life Infrastructure
• How well do parks and rec centers meet your needs for the following?
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know
Exercising/sports
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know
Being close to nature
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Very well Fairly well Neutral Fairly poorly Very poorly Don't know
Gathering with friends and family
Quality of Life InfrastructureTop Likes
• Trees, large open spaces to gather and do activities, and other amenities in parks
• Cherry Creek, Highline, and Goldsmith Gulch trails for green space and mobility
Top Dislikes
• Need more park amenities, better access
• Appearance of more trash and neglected streets and properties in the area, especially along major arterial corridors
Top Ideas
• More culturally significant events and festivals in the exiting parks, more activities, better rec leagues
• Improved and better-maintained landscaping, climate appropriate and less water-intensive