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Issue: 1133 Date: 5/10/2012
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2012 Olive Boulevard Business Survey Findings
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In early 2012, the University City Department of Community Development (Dept. of CD) conducted a business survey of the owners of registered businesses on Olive Boulevard within the City limits of University City. The responses will provide a framework for defining the problems and directing attention to the issues that might impact economic development along the Olive corridor.
All 243 registered businesses along Olive Boulevard in University City
were grouped into four geographical districts based generally on the 2009 Olive
Boulevard Design Guidelines and the Zoning Code: the Interchange/Crossroads? District (from I-170 to McKnight Road), the International District (from McKnight Road to Midland Boulevard), the Parkway District (from Midland Boulevard to Ferguson Avenue), and the Industrial District (from Ferguson Avenue to Skinker Boulevard). 27 of those registered businesses are in the Crossroads District, while 132 are in the International District, 50 are in the Parkway District, and 34 are in the Industrial District. The survey asked 15 questions; the last 2 questions were open-ended.
As of March 23rd, 100 survey responses were received, representing a 41% overall response rate. 29% of the respondents described themselves as minority, woman-owned, and/or disadvantaged businesses; 22% of the respondents were property owners. Business & Professional Services and Retail Trade Sectors represented the majority of Olive Boulevard business owners who responded to the survey.
Most of the business owners indicated that Olive Boulevard in University City is a beneficial location for them; some of them have been there for decades. They cited easy access to customers and a strong business environment as the reasons that they enjoy operating along Olive Boulevard. Problems with public safety, parking, streetscape (infrastructure), and trash were mentioned frequently in written responses to the open-ended questions. Suggestions for streetscape improvement included lighting, landscaping, street conditions, and signs. In response, the Dept. of CD will collaborate with other City departments and the Olive Boulevard community in addressing the most pressing issues.
In terms of plans for future expansion of businesses, 36% of the respondents expressed a likelihood of expanding in 2012 with respondents in all four business districts indicating they have expansion plans. Respondents indicated plans for 83 new hires and 22,000 square feet of additional space for 2012. Further, one-third of the respondents are interested in working with the newly re-activated University City Chamber of Commerce and the previously active Olive Business Association (OBA). Part of the Dept. of CD's ongoing effort includes lending support to the new Chamber and re-activating the OBA by working with groups within the four districts to determine the best marketing approach, event planning, and other efforts to improve district businesses.
The survey results support the notion of the International District as a regional tourist destination, meaning imported money is spent in the City by customers from other areas of the region and bi-state area, and contributes to the University City economy. Also, we have learned that Olive Boulevard businesses enjoy being near their customers and their own homes. They are positive about the Olive Boulevard business environment and its high availability of goods and services. A significant number of Olive Boulevard businesses are optimistic about the near future and have plans for expansion. |
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