Recent Study Highlights Positive Perceptions of Downtown Atlanta

November 21,2011

A recent study commissioned by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) finds that the positive perception of Downtown Atlanta is on the rise.

Atlanta-based The Schapiro Group conducted a telephone survey gauging the perceptions of Downtown Atlanta from more than 400 residents in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. The majority of respondents lived outside the I-285 Perimeter, and visited Downtown Atlanta more than twice a month.

The last Downtown perception poll from The Schapiro Group was conducted in 2002. While the number of respondents who'd consider moving into Downtown hasn't changed significantly since 2002, this year's study reveals that the majority of respondents who would move Downtown are unmarried young people already living inside the Perimeter.

The central business district's bustling urban living environment - as well as the plethora of entertainment options - attracted the majority of respondents who said they'd consider living Downtown. Another top reason for respondents to come Downtown is the area's more than 300 restaurants, which comprise the Downtown Dining District.

"It's encouraging to have more than anecdotal evidence that metro residents view Downtown as Atlanta's top destination for entertainment, great food and good times, " said CAP President A.J. Robinson. "The results of The Schapiro Group's survey reinforce CAP and ADID's daily efforts to keep Downtown Atlanta an ideal place to work, live and play."

Forty-one percent of respondents were aware of the Downtown Ambassador Force, a public safety squad unique to Downtown. The perception of safety Downtown has also increased since 2002, with 69 percent of respondents deeming Downtown either "very" or "somewhat" safe, compared to 61 percent in the previous survey. Additionally, 62 percent of respondents feel that the Downtown Ambassador Force has made Downtown safer. The number of respondents who'd been victims of crime Downtown decreased from more than 10 percent in 2002 to 7 percent presently.

"Metro Atlanta residents are increasingly likely to see Downtown Atlanta as a place with a range of things to do," said Beth Schapiro, PhD, President of The Schapiro Group. "They also see Downtown as a safer place than at any point since we starting conducting these surveys fifteen years ago."

In 2002, a plurality of respondents received news and information about Downtown Atlanta from local print media sources. Today, the highest number of respondents say they get Downtown information online and on social networking sites.