BVSCA 1997 NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY RESULTS
FIFTH ANNUAL SURVEY
TOTAL SURVEY RESPONSES: 70PERIOD OF SURVEY: 10/29/97 TO 11/15/97
The Executive Committee of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association thanks the 70 survey respondents for their participation in our Association's 1997 Neighborhood Survey. The results of this survey will help us, the Executive Committee, to better understand the issues of major concern to our community. The following are the results of our 1997 Neighborhood Survey, which was compiled on December 10, 1997. No survey responses were included in the totals after this date. The Association received 70 survey responses, but not all of the respondents answered each of the survey questions. The results that follow are expressed by the percentage of the total responses received for each question and item. For example, 67 of the 70 survey respondents answered the topical issue 7d, do you support County Funding for Baseball Stadium in Arlington, with 11.9% (8 of 67) answering "yes" and 88.1% (59 of 67) answering "no." (Note: the total percentage of the yes and no answers equals 100% (6.6% + 93.4%). We did not include the 3 blank responses (3 of 67) to topical issue 7d in the total percentage computation.) In the survey questionnaire, we asked that all questions be answered and that the level of concern be identified for each of the following issues. The total results of the 1997 Neighborhood Survey follow the brief overall summary. Overall Summary of the Survey Results The results of the BVSCA 1997 Neighborhood Survey show that the number one item in terms of percentage response or concern was the need to establish visitor parking requirements for residential high rises and townhouses (see item b. Establishing Visitor Parking Requirements--Residential High Rises or Townhouses, under Question 7. Topical Issues: Do you support?). The results of survey show that 89.4% of the 70 respondents this year indicated support for such a requirement. This was a percentage increase of 11.9% from the prior year. In the BVSCA 1996 Neighborhood Survey, the Association reported that 77.5% of the 78 respondents indicated support for establishing visitor requirements. Likewise, concerns about on-street parking and street traffic levels increased dramatically in the BVSCA 1997 Neighborhood Survey from the prior year. See item b. On-Street Parking, under Question 2. Parking or Traffic, which shows that 38.7% of the 70 respondents this year indicated that this item is a critical problem. In the prior year survey, the 1996 BVSCA Neighborhood Survey, the Association reported that 39.1% of the 78 respondents indicated that this item was a critical problem. This was a decrease of 0.4% from the prior year, as a critical problem. Also, see item a. Street Traffic Levels, under Question 2. Parking or Traffic, which shows that 35.6% of the 70 respondents this year indicated that this item is a critical problem. In the prior year survey, the Association reported that 20.6% of the 78 respondents indicated that this item was a critical problem. This was an increase of 15.0% over the prior year, as a critical problem. Local Income Tax (Proposed) and Possible County Funding for A Baseball Stadium Concerns about a possible local income tax in the future and possible County funding for a professional baseball stadium in Arlington County, Virginia, continued this year as two of the top issues identified in the annual BVSCA Neighborhood Survey. See item d. Local Income Tax (Proposed), under Question 3. Current Local Taxes, which shows that 55.9% of the 70 respondents this year indicated that this item is a critical problem. In the prior year survey, the 1996 BVSCA Neighborhood Survey, the Association reported that 61.9% of the 78 respondents indicated that this item was a critical problem. Also, see item d. County Funding for Baseball Stadium in Arlington, under Question 7. Topical Issues: Do you support? The results of survey show that 88.1% of the 70 respondents this year indicated opposition to any funding for a baseball stadium in Arlington County, Virginia. In the prior year survey, the Association reported that 93.4% of the 78 respondents indicated opposition to any funding for a baseball stadium in Arlington County, Virginia.|
Issue Area |
Not a Problem %(1) |
Slight Problem % |
Problem % |
Critical Problem % |
| 1. Land Use Development | 26.5 | 28.6 | 22.4 | 22.4 |
| a. Commerical Development |
36.6 |
18.3 | 16.6 |
28.3 |
| b. Residential Development |
39.7 |
22.4 | 17.2 |
20.7 |
| c. Bonus Density for Affordable Housing |
40.0 |
12.0 |
16.0 |
32.0 |
| 2. Parking or Traffic |
25.6 |
16.3 |
20.9 |
39.5 (#2) |
| a. Street Traffic Levels |
18.6 (#2) |
23.7 |
22.0 |
35.6 |
| b. On-Street Parking |
14.5 (#1) |
12.9 |
33.9 |
38.7 (#3) |
| c. Off-Street Parking |
32.8 |
17.2 |
19.0 |
31.0 |
| d. Pedestrian Walkways |
35.6 |
18.6 |
28.8 |
17.0 |
| 3. Current Local Taxes ("T") |
24.3 |
35.1 |
24.3 |
16.2 |
| a. Real Estate T |
39.0 |
27.1 |
18.6 |
15.3 |
| b. Personal Property T |
28.8 |
18.6 |
23.7 |
28.8 |
| c. Meals T |
43.0 |
17.2 | 20.7 |
19.0 |
| d. Local Income Tax (Proposed) |
18.6 (#2) |
10.2 | 15.3 |
55.9 (#1) |
| 4. Crime |
24.4 |
41.4 | 17.1 |
17.1 |
| a. In My Neighborhood |
32.8 |
42.2 |
15.6 |
9.4 |
| b. Neighborhood Schools |
42.3 |
30.7 |
13.5 |
13.5 |
| c. Aggressive Panhandling |
36.5 |
38.1 |
7.9 |
7.5 |
Question 5 -- County Government: Should Arlington
Spend More on Each Item?
|
Item |
More (%) |
No Change (%) |
Less (%) |
| a. Staff Size/Salaries |
10.5 |
52.6 | 36.8 |
| b. Welfare |
5.3 |
42.1 |
52.6 |
| c. Public Parking |
54.7 |
31.3 |
14.0 |
| d. Public Safety |
61.0 |
34.4 |
4.6 |
Question 6. Quality of Life: Should Arlington Spend
More on Each Item?
|
Item |
More (%) |
No Change (%) |
Less (%) |
| a. Public Schools |
36.1 |
47.5 |
16.4 |
| b. Transition Homes |
10.5 |
36.8 |
52.6 |
| c. Subsidized Rental Housing |
8.2 |
34.4 |
57.4 |
| d. Subsidized Home Ownership |
13.1 |
32.8 |
49.2 |
|
Item |
Yes (%) (12 Items 50+% Support) |
No (%) (6 Items 50+% Opposed) |
| a. Off-Street Parking Requirements Increase to 2+ Spaces/Unit |
87.1 (#4) |
12.9 |
| b. Establishing Visitor Pkg Reqmnts Residential High-Rises/TownHouses |
89.4 (#1) |
10.6 |
| c. Special Economic Incentives to Attract/Retain Business |
66.1 (#7) |
33.9 |
| d. County Funding for Baseball Stadium in Arlington |
11.9 |
88.1 (#1) |
| e. Single Room Occupancy Units or Group Homes |
32.3 |
67.7 (#4) |
| f. Aggressive Panhandling Law/Ordinance |
83.3 (#5) |
16.7 |
| g. Proposed Day-Time Drop-In Homeless Shlter-In our Neighborhood |
32.8 |
67.2 (#5) |
| h. Opening Emergency Shelter Nightly (Nov. 1 to Mar. 31) |
64.1 (#9) |
35.9 |
| i. Marymount University's Upgrade & Use of Quincy Soccer Field |
55.2 (#12) |
44.8 |
| j. Arlington Cty Speculation in Land |
20.0 |
80.0 (#2) |
| k. Eliminate Personal Property Tax |
64.5 (#8) |
35.5 |
| l. Term Limits for Board Members |
55.9 (#11) |
44.1 |
| m. Post Office in Ballston |
88.7 (#2) |
11.3 |
| n. Use Permits for Used Car Lots |
88.3 (#3) |
11.7 |
| o. Increased Retirement Benefits for Arlington Police & Firefighters |
71.9 (#6) |
28.1 |
| p. Walkway above Fairfax Drive |
59.0 (#10) |
41.0 |
| q. County Tuition for Gifted Students to Attend Schools Outside Arlington |
40.4 |
59.6 (#6) |
| r. County Goal -- 10% of Rental Housing to be Subsidized by Yr 2000 |
27.1 |
72.9 (#3) |