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Roseburg resident presents downtown business survey, flags homelessness, parking and sidewalks
Summary
Longtime Roseburg resident Blair Bailey told the Economic Development Commission that a grassroots survey of 44 downtown businesses found widespread concern about homelessness, lack of city outreach, parking and sidewalk conditions.
Blair Bailey, a Roseburg resident who said her family has been in the community for 75 years, told the Roseburg Economic Development Commission on Jan. 23 that she surveyed 44 downtown businesses and will report results at an upcoming economic forum.
Bailey told commissioners the grassroots questionnaire was intended “to identify and acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of our downtown region,” and that respondents did not have to identify themselves or their businesses. “Our goal is to obtain response from as many businesses as possible in the downtown area,” she said.
The survey, Bailey said, asked businesses whether they felt supported by the city and whether they relied on tourism dollars. She summarized the results for the commission: 30 percent of respondents said their businesses had grown as much as they would like, 50 percent said they had not. On whether the city supported their needs, 22 percent said yes, 50 percent said no and 11 percent were undecided. On whether the city had spent time in their business to help them succeed, Bailey said 16 percent said yes and 78 percent said no.
On public-safety and downtown conditions, Bailey reported several stark responses: 94 percent of respondents said the homeless population affected their business; 50 percent reported they felt safe in town while 22 percent said they did not; and 94 percent said they believed downtown had a drug problem.
Bailey also summarized responses to rating questions, saying an aggregate 48 percent rated city responsiveness to business needs as “very poor.” She described numerous written comments about sidewalks and building conditions downtown and suggested the city consider free parking and dedicated attendants to help direct or monitor public parking. “Parking needs to be free,” she told the commission.
Bailey closed by asking the commission to consider the survey findings at the economic forum she said will be held Thursday, and to prioritize leadership and visible action on downtown problems. “We need leadership in this town,” she said.
Commission staff said they would take Bailey’s survey results back to city offices. Stuart (city staff) told the commission he would convey the comments and follow up with additional information for commissioners.
