dcbid says: want results? take the survey
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The Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) is calling for Downtowners of all stripes to take their new demographic survey. To sweeten the deal, those who fill out the form will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
As the leading provider of cleaning, safety, and advertising services as well as working to attract new businesses to the Downtown area, the results of this survey will be used to grab those enterprises we’ve been collectively clamoring for. (Think: Trader Joe’s, Target)
In 2006 the survey caused quite a stir when it was made known that the average Downtown household income was higher than that of Beverly Hills, at $99,600 per year.
This year’s survey should be more far-reaching, as the neighborhood’s residential base has expanded dramatically, office vacancies have dropped and new businesses have opened. And with the growing power of blogs and online media to spread the word, the sample will be a better representation of the facts on the ground.
Still, some small-business owners have been disappointed since moving into Downtown, citing a disconnect between surveys such as these, disposable incomes and foot traffic.
On condition of anonymity, one business owner who opened up shop recently says: “The numbers just don’t add up. I’m not seeing the traffic I expected. Where are all these people?”
It just goes to show that in Downtown, as in most neighborhoods, location is paramount, and a long-range plan with the means for absorbing initial losses is essential. This is all in addition to selling a product or service that people want.
For large businesses that rely on residential numbers, household income statistics and other data to make the decision to move into a neighborhood, this questionnaire has wide implications for the future of Downtown LA business.
And hey, that gives me something to write about.
Full disclosure: My husband works for the DCBID.
-The Downtown Center Business Improvement District Demographic Survey
22 comments
Give a bunch of rich developers subsidies to develop an area and they will surely market it to the best of their ability. It’s not reliable survey information, but rather marketing that is being publicized.
The demographic info from the last survey was biased. It did not include renters or the existing downtown population, but ONLY condo purchasers, many of whom don’t even live here. Let’s hope the latest effort fixes that.
Rich, where would you want to see a Target placed in the downtown area? I know it’s probably good for downtown in a lot of postive ways, but Targets are huge buildings that probably require more parkling lots if anything. I know it would bring people into the area, and that store has everything; but woudn’t a Target be more like an eyesore compared to the current building phase in downtown?
Gregg: There were rumors of Target coming to one of the several malls that Downtown has (7th and Fig, 505 Flower) as well as the Broadway Trade Center.
I think those are all workable because they have parking and large spaces. None of those panned out, but they are existing buildings with floor area consistent with what a Target would need. I don’t think new construction would work in Downtown.
Target would be cool in Downtown. They don’t need to provide lots of parking necessarily. Let the shoppers be creative and carpool or just walk and take METRO.
I mean they got Kmart and Home Depot in NYC.
loveandhatela: The number of required parking spaces a potential Target will have to construct is determined by the Los Angeles Building Department - not by Target. I agree that it would be fantastic if they “let the shoppers be creative” - but that is not necessarily possible. There are tricks and deals Target can make to lower the number of spaces, but anything dealing with the building department gets very nuanced and frustrating.
Bert,
Just to clarify, the 2006 demographic survey, which I personally distributed to every residential market rate door in Downtown, included all market rate condo owners and renters. The Median Income statistic was not just based on condo owners. Keep in mind that this survey was produced to measure the demographics of the “new DTLA resident”, defined as anyone living in any of DTLA’s market rate residential units completed after ‘00.
“Full disclosure: My husband works for the DCBID”
congratulations!
vote no on 8!
Justin-
I believe you, but that is different from what I was told when the survey came out (not by you, of course).
I am still not convinced that the 2006 survey was in any way representative of the reality, and proved as a disservice to businesses opening downtown, because it created unrealistic expectations.
Target will be a very good idea for downtown, along with a ross and Best Buy
For the struggling business owners, this old adage reigns true: “Give the people what they want”. Last Sunday while looking for a good breakfast, we tried the Nickle Diner. But because of the crowds, my husband and I walked out of the line (around 12:30 pm) that ran out the door, and down the sidewalk. As we were leaving, more people were filling the line that was reaching down to the Leonor SRO hotel. I wonder what these SRO hotel dwellers think of all these Main Street trendy restaurants attracting upscale customers to their neighborhood? Too bad the Lime cafe didn’t see this kind of business. Damn, I miss the Lime’s mushroom enchiladas. Well, we ended up at Clifton’s, not our first choice for breakfast.
how about Walmart?
would that be great or would it Kill
just and Idea?
I’ve been saying for quite some time that downtown could use a Target or similar big box stores (Borders, Best Buy) … but Target it one of those places the majority of residents would take advantage of.
There are a number of ‘malls’ downtown that could probably host the pedestrian and auto traffic. If building from scratch, and Rich would know the details, there are some empty lots down South Park way. Is everything spoke for over here?
Brian: Most of the lots are spoken for. That doesn’t mean plans can’t change though. I just don’t know that building from scratch would be the best idea for a big-box store.
How’s about we get rid of one of the Macy’s?? Do we really need two within a two block radius?
I’m sure there are probably leasing issues, but there’s really no need for two.
Maybe this doesn’t belong in this section but, I don’t know where to voice it.
I have been in the area for roughly two or three months. Love the place I’m besides a few issues with management following through with agreements. Sadly or blindly… The lady and I moved in cause of how beautiful and modern the place was and had some slight idea that they are working on cleaning Broadway up. With the time I have spent already living here, I have seen NOTHING. I see the same bum sleeping in the same spot having to smell “it” everytime I try to get to the building at night. I am cynical mind you; I know this is a human being, but simply a waste of space and highly affecting my quality of life. I have grown VERY tired of smelling urine and them themselves.
Where can I find initiatives or movements to better this area? I am in the Judson, which isn’t in the heart of Broadway traffic.
The simplest thing that can be done to make the area look slightly better is to remove signs. Seems to me like these businesses think they need five signs all over the place. Looks tacky and makes the area looked run down.
We definately need something like Target or Walmart, or Kmart downtown. There’s no where to get household ‘stuff’ right now. And yes, it does need parking. No one is going to take a TV or a ‘bed in a bag’ home on their bike or on the metro. It’s just not feasible for the type of stuff Target sells…
PS. I don’t think the original survey was that far off… I mean if you take into account that people are paying half a million dollars and up for a modest loft, or paying $2k a month for a similar sized apartment. You really need to be making $100k a year to be able to afford to live in downtown. Of course, if you want to factor in all the homeless people who live down here and make nothing, I guess the average income would probably be the lowest in all of LA.
There are actually a lot of places to buy household goods downtown, but it requires you to keep an open mind and be willing to explore different areas. For example, the garment district features a lot of stores that sell linens. There’s a store on Los Angeles street that sells restaurant supplies and is open to the public. Big Lots sells linens, dishes, pots and pans, dish soap, etc. It would be nice to have a big box store nearby, but in the meantime there are lots of shopping options downtown.
Little Tokyo is great for contemporary dishware.
Hey Bert,
I understand where you’re coming from and I agree, there are certain businesses that come into Downtown with overblown expectations. However I don’t think the survey is to blame. There is a lot of buying power amongst our residents and yes, our “median income” is up there with other parts of LA. The diff is that areas like BH, Brentwood, etc, etc have hundreds of thousands of residents within miles of most establishments. Downtown doesn’t have those kind of numbers yet and any new business opening in DTLA should be well aware of that. With that said, there aren’t any areas in LA growing as fast as DTLA.
If a restaurant/retailer is not grossing the kind of numbers initially expected, first and foremost it should look within. The restaurant/retailers that get it right and understand what the neighborhood is looking for all do very well. I would also gladly sit down with any business owner in DTLA that isn’t happy and looking for help. That’s what we are here for.
Our 2006 survey was produced in cooperation with and tabulated by the LAEDC. Had the LAEDC believed in any way that our surey was biased or simply a “propoganda” piece, there’s no way it would have signed on.
Speaking of surveys. There is another survey out there…I just came on board at the beginning of October with the Department of Cultural Affairs and I am finding that many people, including those like all of you on this blog and colleagues from the gallery-world were unaware. As with many surveys, there was a target audience that they wanted to hear from initially. Being that LA is so huge, not to mention the diverse art culture, there were many survey audiences that did not get a chance to fill it out….so Now is your chance. We re-actived the survey on the site, so please fill it out.
This survey is targeted to Arts and Culture, and we are all aware that the beginning of art in a neighborhood is the beginning of a new neighborhood, so whether you enjoy the art openings downtown as an observer, or own a business, your info is much needed.
Here is a link to the survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=80elzym2XgzLHJYG_2bIcXeQ_3d_3d
In addition, please try to attend one of the community meetings. You can go to any of them, not just the one in your district.
http://www.culturela.org/culturalplan/meetings.html
Thanks!!
LL
This is Rob – owner of Pussy & Pooch (the dog/cat boutique on 6th/Main). We opened on Dec 2007. Before we opened, we looked at these survey results to help us in our business plan, forecasting, location, etc. We were very impressed with the numbers – this was an important part of our decision to open up a store DTLA. We have had an amazing first year and have been very happy with the people who have come in our doors. Such amazing people live in DTLA.
From Justin’s remark about “looking within” – I agree with him partially as many businesses could do a better job of truly understanding the DTLA resident and what they want. Some businesses ask their customers what they want and hope to get enough feedback. This is a position of weakness and consumers are too smart for this.
“Looking in” to our store, I don’t think we could possibly do more than what we are doing. If anyone knows the store and our maxed out calendar, we really work hard and cherish every customer that walks in our door. We’ve probably had to work 3-5 times as hard as other locations in the city because the foot traffic is still far from what it should be.
I mostly agree with the survey numbers, however, I don’t see enough of these people. They exist - so foot traffic “should” be higher with our current residents - but they don’t seem to shop enough downtown. I don’t think DTLA residents feel comfortable in their shopping habits and look elsewhere to shop. The stores are disjointed and there’s not many of them. The awareness is low. There’s a significant effort of media and word of mouth towards Restaurants/Bars, but very little towards shopping downtown. If DTLA is to continue to grow and “attract new businesses to open up”, then DTLA residents need to do a better job of supporting the local businesses that exist, and the local media needs to do a better job of helping to create this awareness. As a store owner, we take matters in our own hands to do marketing and PR. However, it would help to have local media help in creating this awareness. Consumers deserve choice so we don’t want to guilt them to do something they don’t want to. This is more of a change of mindset, not guilt. This is about encouraging people to walk to stores versus driving 20 minutes out of downtown because they have a car. Look at New York and other big cities. They walk and shop downtown. There’s plenty here, but not many people know where to go.
DTLA is not that exciting with only entertainment – restaurant, bars, etc. With all these new buildings and residents moving in (and currently living here) we need a more diverse selection of businesses to keep spending dollars downtown instead of sending our residents elsewhere.
I’ve been leading a new initiative to tackle this problem in creating this awareness for DT retail. If you’d like to support this movement or are a DT store owner and want to help, please contact me at rob@pussyandpooch.com
Thanks,
Rob