Old North End Neighborhood Survey Results

During the year 2000, the COPC Community Leadership Project conducted a Neighborhood Survey in Burlington's Old North End.  The goal of the survey was to gather information about the quality of life for residents and the ways in which community resources can best support residents' needs.

Residents were interviewed by door-to-door canvassing on nine streets:  Booth, Cedar, Converse, Isham, Johnson, Lafountain, Rose, School, and St. Louis.  Each street was canvassed multiple times during daytime, evenings, and weekends in an attempt to talk with as many households as possible.  We spoke with 177 households, an average of 45% of households from each of the nine streets.  Thanks to all of the residents who share their time and ideas.

Below is a summary of the major themes in residents' responses to the survey.  If you would like more information about the survey or about the COPC Community Leadership Project, contact us at 656-0095.  We'd be glad to hear from you and discuss the survey results with you and others!

Greatest benefits of living in Old North End Neighborhoods

We asked residents, "What do you feel are some of the greatest benefits of living on your block?"  People described what they like best about where they live.

64% talked about the convenience of location.  Residents enjoy being close to work, schools, downtown, parks, stores, services, and the waterfront.  Many places are within easy walking distance!

53% talked about the people who live near them.  Residents like their neighbors and the sense of community in their neighborhood.

30% talked about the general environment. (Quiet, pleasant neighborhood)

Other benefits included:

• Nice mix of housing (10%)

• Affordability (7%)

• Safety (6%)

• Attractive (3%)

• Good Neighborhood Association (3%)

Most pressing issues facing Old North End Neighborhoods

We asked residents, "What are the most pressing needs facing your neighborhood right now?"

37% were concerned about the general environment, including problems with noise, traffic, and parking.

23% were concerned about crime and safety, including theft, violence, domestic abuse, fighting, and property destruction.

22% were concerned about drug/alcohol use.

21% were concerned about tensions among residents, including neighbors, teens, and college students.

21% were concerned about housing quality and availability.

16% said there are no pressing problems now.

Other issues included:

• Sanitation (8%)

• Absence of services (5%)

• Infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, sewers) (4%)

• Poverty/Lack of jobs (3%)

Recent Changes in Neighborhoods

We asked residents, "Has your block or neighborhood changed over the past 4-5 years?"

Among those who saw change in the past 4-5 years, 80% noted some positive differences.

The most commonly cited positive changes (62%) were improved relations among people within and outside of the neighborhood, including:

• greater sense of community

• less crime, fighting, drugs, and noise

• more support from landlords, community groups, city services, and police

• more long-term residents (and homeownership)

The second most commonly cited positive changes (44%) were physical changes, such as:

• fixed-up properties, yards, and sidewalks

• improved housing situation

• street safety improvements (speed bumps, crosswalks)

Among those who saw change in the past 4-5 years, 32% noted some negative differences. (Many of those who described negative changes also mentioned positive changes.)

The most commonly cited negative change was:

• high rates of turnover among residents

Other negative changes mentioned by a few people included:

• increased crime and drugs

• decreased safety

• physical deterioration of the neighborhood

• less interpersonal interaction among neighbors

Residents' Hopes and Dreams

"Are you interested in getting together with your neighbors to help make positive changes on your street?"  Here are the top five changes that people would like to see in their neighborhood in the next few years:

• Greater sense of community and neighborliness among residents

• Increased safety (noted by residents from Cedar, LaFountain, Rose, School, and St. Louis Streets)

• Beautification, restoration, and clean-up

• Improved quality of housing (more home ownership, responsive landlords, and family-style housing)

• Improved infrastructure (repaired buildings, sidewalks, and roads, plus more lighting)

Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together to make these dreams become reality!

Street Associations in Old North End Neighborhoods

One of our goals was to learn more about the role of Street Associations.  Of the 9 streets we canvassed: 

• 5 had street associations, active to various degrees:  Booth, Converse, LaFountain, Rose & School

• 4 did not have an active street association:  Cedar, Johnson, Isham & St. Louis

"What &has been the effect of your Street Association on your neighborhood?"

On a series of rating scales, residents agreed that their street associations had:

• made government more responsive to neighborhood needs

• increased their ability to accomplish neighborhood projects

• increased neighborhood power

• increased pride in the neighborhood

• improved quality of services and access to them

• raised awareness of neighborhood issues to people outside their own neighborhood

• strengthened the confidence of residents to act on things that are important to them

"How are residents involved?" 

On streets with associations, 58% of those surveyed said they are involved in the association through:

• meetings

• block parties

• events and projects

• coordinating with Police and other City services

• Neighborhood Watch

"How do people get involved?"

The most common way people got involved was by:

• Invitation/encouragement from neighbors

Other reasons included:

• wanting involvement, sense of community

• safety and crime concerns

• other specific concerns

Reasons cited for not participating included being too busy, time conflicts, lack of interest.

"What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a street association?"

Residents described the following advantages:

• community building

• addressing traffic and safety concerns

• organizing clean-up of the neighborhood

• neighborhood beautification and green-up

68% felt street associations had no disadvantages.  A few people cited the possibility that associations can create interpersonal tensions and disagreements among residents.

"Is quality of life different on streets with associations?"

We asked all residents to tell us how much they agree with a list of statements about their block.  People who live on streets that do have street associations (as compared to those without street associations) more strongly endorsed the following statements:

• This block is a good place for me to live.

• People in this neighborhood are active in community decision-making.

• If there is a problem on this block, people who live here get it solved.

• Together, people on this block can persuade the City and other groups to respond to our needs and concern.

• My neighbors would help me in an emergency.

• People of all ages are safe living on this street.

• The people on this block trust each other.

• I have some power over what this neighborhood is like.

• I feel at home on this block.

Planning for the Future

"Do you imagine you'll still be living on this block three years from now?  Ten years from now?"

53% of residents do not expect to be living on their block 3 years from now.  This includes:  85% of residents on Johnson, 84% of Isham, 62% of School, 60% of Cedar and St. Louis, 53% of Converse, 45% of Rose, and 28% of LaFountain.  None of the residents we spoke with on Booth Street expected to have moved within 3 years.

23% of residents do expect to be living on the same block 10 years from now.  This includes:  75% of residents on Booth, 33% of LaFountain, 27% of Converse, 24% of Cedar and Rose, 14% of School, 10% of St. Louis, and 5% of Isham.  None of the residents we spoke with on Johnson Street expected to be living there in 10 years.

"Why are people hoping to stay in their neighborhood?"

• I like the street/neighborhood (29%)

• I have roots or history in this area (16%)

• I like the people who live here (14%)

• I like my living situation (14%)

• It's a convenient location (close to work, school, service, recreation) (12%)

• I own my home (12%)

• It's affordable (12%)

"Why are people planning to leave their neighborhood?"

• I'd like to live outside the Old North End or Burlington or Vermont (28%)

• My current residence is only temporary (I'm here for work, school) (19%)

• I don't like the conditions in this neighborhood (10%)

• I don't like my neighbors (10%)

• I'd like to live in a more rural area (outside the City) (7%)

• I'm not happy with my apartment/I'd like a better or bigger place to live (7%)

• I want to buy a home (7%)

Next Steps:

The information gathered through this Neighborhood Survey is being shared with residents and community organizations in the Old North End and with City Departments to help them create the types of support that residents want.

If you are part of a group who would like to learn more about the survey or about how you might work to address some of the important issues raised by residents, we'd be happy to speak with you.  Please call Lynne Bond at 656-1341 (e-mail: Lynne.Bond@uvm.edu).

Would you like more information about Street Associations in your neighborhood?  Talk to Beth Truzansky at the Burlington Neighborhood Project (865·7178) to find out whether your street has an active association or to get information on starting an association.