Downtown Anacortes survey: residents value walkability, want more everyday retail and year-round activity

The Downtown Anacortes Association reported survey results to the City Council on Sept. 15 showing strong local support for downtown’s character and demand for more day-to-day retail and year‑round offerings.

“People love downtown,” Jordan Hay, executive director of the Downtown Anacortes Association, told the council. Hay presented a consumer survey completed earlier in 2025 and said respondents used words such as “walkable,” “friendly” and “quaint” to describe downtown.

Survey highlights included a high frequency of visits tied to daily and weekly activities — walking, eating out and stopping for coffee — which Hay said together equate to roughly 25 days per year of engagement on average. The survey also rated downtown strengths as a feeling of safety and strong customer service; lower scores were reported for business hours, product selection, parking and perceived value.

Hay outlined two new programs the association is developing: a façade grant to help building owners refresh storefronts (details to be released later) and a “locals pass” mailed to residents to incentivize visits in the shoulder season. He said downtown volunteerism produced about 1,800 hours in the first half of the year and estimated that volunteer hours add roughly $85,000 in value.

Councilmembers thanked Hay for the presentation and asked staff and the economic development committee to consider survey findings while drafting an economic-development plan. No formal action was taken; the association said the full survey and verbatim comments are available on its website and by QR code provided at the presentation.

Why it matters: the survey provides data the city and business groups can use to recruit targeted retailers, fine‑tune event timing and prioritize streetscape and pedestrian improvements to support everyday use of downtown.