The outcomes of a first-of-its-kind “State of Buckhead” community survey, launched in March, contained few surprises — among the many takeaways are that locals concern crime and love canines. However the findings could have long-term impacts as a quartet of business-oriented organizations use them to develop a branding marketing campaign and plans for such applications as public artwork and canine parks.
Meant as the primary in a biannual data-gathering course of, the survey was circulated late final 12 months by Livable Buckhead, a nonprofit targeted on environmental and group applications. Whereas Livable Buckhead paid for the survey, it can additionally inform the intently aligned teams the Buckhead Enterprise Affiliation, the Buckhead Coalition and the Buckhead Neighborhood Enchancment District.
“There aren’t lots of enormous surprises from this survey,” mentioned Denise Starling, Livable Buckhead’s govt director, whereas discussing the findings at a March 25 BBA assembly. However, she mentioned, it has lots of helpful “knowledge nuggets” on areas to enhance, equivalent to elevating the profile of public transit and increasing sustainability efforts past recycling.
The survey additionally informs “Buckhead ATL,” a business-style neighborhood branding marketing campaign within the works from the 4 organizations. Who that branding is aimed toward stays fuzzy — “I don’t even know the best way to reply that,” Starling mentioned in a later interview — however one goal of the train is growing a typical theme and speaking level for the 4 organizations, which have very totally different functions and constituencies.
“That’s one of many challenges of making the model, as a result of totally different folks need to use it in several methods,” from arts applications to enterprise attraction, mentioned Starling. “So we’re making an attempt to determine type of the place the widespread floor is between all these methods you would wish to model the group” and ensure all 4 organizations have comparable “core parts” in thoughts.
One probably consequence of the branding, mentioned Starling and Tracy Paden of Cookerly, a public relations agency for the 4 teams, are “placemaking” artwork tasks. These is perhaps much like the wall painted with the phrase “Buckhead” on PATH400 alongside Lenox Street, or Midtown’s rainbow-painted crosswalks that commemorate the LGBTQ group.
Outcomes
Performed by the agency Alexander Babbage, the survey drew 2,362 accomplished responses. A spotlight of the survey was getting responses from the differing however overlapping constituencies of those that reside in Buckhead and those that work there. The agency mentioned that of those that responded, 79% have been native residents and 47% have been native staff.
Starling advised the BBA that the big variety of responses provides the survey “statistical validity” higher than many political polls. However there are a number of {qualifications} to that and a few bias within the demographics. The survey was not random, largely circulating to Livable Buckhead contacts and choose companies, together with some house complexes. And the outcomes weren’t weighted to steadiness out over- or under-represented teams, mentioned Stephen Collins of Alexander Babbage.
“It skews towards wealthy, White Buckhead slightly bit extra” in comparison with the neighborhood’s demographics, mentioned Collins of the survey responses, and girls have been overrepresented as effectively. Round 90% of respondents have been White, whereas U.S. Census estimates for Buckhead are round 72% White. Collins mentioned a big distinction was in common family earnings, which he says is estimated at $164,000 for the neighborhood however was round $250,000 for survey respondents.
Crime fears are one space the place such bias may present up within the survey outcomes. Speaking earlier this year about Buckhead crime, Georgia State College criminologist Joshua Hinkle mentioned that middle-class suburbanites and older girls are the demographics most petrified of crime, despite the fact that younger males in city areas are the demographic probably to be victims of violent crime.
Crime as “each an actual and perceived menace” was the highest challenge for survey respondents, chosen by 66%, with visitors a distant second at 12%. By far the preferred crime answer was extra law enforcement officials, at 53%; the closely touted concept of accelerating the Atlanta Police Division’s surveillance digicam system got here in at 9%. Sustaining roads and bettering sidewalks are different huge points.
On the constructive facet, Starling mentioned, the “Buckhead model” is considered positively with such phrases as “upscale” and “dynamic.” The neighborhood is seen as having nice shops and eating places and good entry to employment by roads.
The survey discovered that many staff need to proceed teleworking no less than a part of the week after the pandemic. And 56% of households have canines, which the survey estimates means a inhabitants of round 82,000 canines. That’s an enormous deal for planning fixtures like canine parks.
The survey didn’t instantly ask a few present proposal for Buckhead to become its own city, however the outcomes touched on the theme. Starling mistakenly advised the BBA that Livable Buckhead isn’t taking a place on the problem — all four of the organizations formally oppose it — however that the outcomes “present the place lots of that sentiment is coming from” with issues about crime, road upkeep and “not getting as a lot help from our elected officers.” One place cityhood, together with “higher management,” got here up within the survey was as an answer to crime, the place 14% of respondents chosen it.
In details about the respondents not included within the public presentation however supplied to the Reporter later, 4% of the households included folks with disabilities. In a query about sexual orientation, 90% recognized as straight and 4% as homosexual, with asexual and bisexual at 2% every and lesbian at 1%.
Chosen outcomes from the survey could be seen in a report on the Livable Buckhead website.
