Mother Nature dropped frigid, subzero temperatures on the area Wednesday morning as officials from the Downtown Detroit Partnership and the Business Improvement Zone gathered to reveal the results of their 2024 Downtown Detoit Perceptions Survey.
But, in stark contrast to the weather, the results of the survey itself were nothing but warm and fuzzy.
According to the survey, 93.1 percent of respondents have a positive overall impression of downtown Detroit, up nearly 17 percent from the previous survey, taken in 2022.
The survey is taken every two years to help officials understand how people use, perceive and engage with downtown. More than 1,000 people participated in the 2024 survey, which officials said provides “actionable measures” that help guide the program of work and future investments for the DDP and BIZ.:
“We were gratified to see the numbers continue to move in the right direction, but there is always work to be done,” said DDP CEO Eric Larson. “There is great value in hearing from Detroit residents as well as those beyond the city limits. We use the data to inform our work as we continue to drive urban innovation through social and economic impact in downtown.”
Among the survey’s highlights:
- 90 percent of Detroiters said downtown was either very or somewhat family friendly, up 8 percent from 2018. Of all respondents, those between the ages of 35-59 were mostly likely to have this perception.
- 77 percent of Detroiters and 80 percent of the “tally” (anyone who responded to an open invitation to take the survey, primarily metro Detroiters) agree downtown sidewalks are clean and free from litter and debris.
- More than 80 percent of Detroiters and nearly 90 percent of the tally think downtown is a safe place to visit.
That was music to the ears of Detroit Police Capt. Nathan Duda, Captain of Downtown Services and Gaming Operations, though it came as no particular surprise following his experience with the NFL Draft – held in Detroit in April – and the Detroit Grand Prix in June.
“I wasn’t surprised based on during the interactions (with visitors) during the draft and the race,” Duda said.
- More than 75 percent of respondents from the NFL Draft survey said they’d recommend downtown Detroit to a friend or family member and rated downtown a 10/10.
- Visitation to downtown’s public spaces is up among all respondents, across all spaces an enjoyed equally across racial demographics.
Gina Cavaliere, the DDP’s chief community impact officer and BIZ director, said the biggest takeaway from the survey is the indication that downtown is moving in the right direction.
“We have a strong, strong base, but there are still some areas where there’s room to grow,” Cavaliere said. “We’re not going to rest on our laurels in any way. We’ll continue to build on that success and that commitment to excellence.
“Since 2018, familiarity with the DDP and BIZ grew 15 and 12 percent, respectively,” she added. “We want to continue that trajectory, but what’s most important is that we are making a difference in downtown Detroit and in people’s lives, and that speaks volumes.”
