Poll shows 78% residents committed to Downtown

Real Estate Weekly, May 28, 2003

A new poll shows that 78% of downtown residents plan to remain in their neighborhood for the long haul, despite very personal losses and disruptions.

The poll reveals that the majority of Lower Manhattan residents have a positive view of their neighborhood, though there was a steep drop in the number of residents who say the quality of life is excellent today as compared to before 9/11.

* 42% of residents who lived in Lower Manhattan prior to 9/11 rated the overall quality of life as "excellent" during that time.

* Today, only 14% of the same respondents feel this way.

The poll, which was conducted by Blum and Weprin Associates on May 4 - 6, surveyed approximately 800 residents from various neighborhoods on both the east and west sides of Lower Manhattan below Canal Street, including Tribeca and Battery Park City.

70% of those polled lived in Lower Manhattan prior to 9/11.

Among residents who lived in Lower Manhattan prior to 9/11, 41% lost family, friends or neighbors in the World Trade Center attack and 64% were forced to move from their home, at least for a while, after 9/11.

Although a year and a half has passed since the 9/11 attacks, residents are still feeling the emotional and physical impacts of the tragedy, the poll indicates.

* 30% of respondents or a household member who lived downtown prior to 9/11 continue to suffer from respiratory problems.

* 72% of respondents or a household member who lived downtown. prior to 9/11 have suffered from emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression, etc. since 9/11 and 31% continue to suffer today. There was an extraordinary turnover of residents in Battery Park City which might explain why relatively few current area residents, 13%, report having lost their job or business as a result of 9/11.

* 43% of BPC residents moved in after 9/11, indicating a massive exodus from the area, since there has been no new housing constructed in the 21-building complex since 9/11. The poll was commissioned by a newly formed advocacy group called "Downtown Rebounds," representing more than twenty Lower Manhattan business, civic, residential and education interests that represent 50,000 residents and 350,000 area workers. During the coming week, Downtown Rebounds will be releasing more results concerning residents' long and short term priorities for rebuilding their neighborhood and their reflections on the 9/11 memorial and WTC site.