Train Avenue Corridor Focus Groups
| Team D: | |
| Jake Baker, Sara Byrnes, Katharyne Marcus & Marc South |
| Executive Summary | |
| Objective | |
| Literature Review & Methodology | |
| Findings | |
| Discussion | |
| Conclusion | |
| Appendices |
| The purpose of this project was to determine the opinions of area residents and business owners along Train Avenue about the proposed extension of the Towpath Trail through the Train Avenue Corridor | |
| Findings: | |
| Train Avenue is in need of help – any and every kind of help | |
| All feel that the area is unsafe on many levels due to lack of lighting, accumulated trash and debris, indigent people, poor road conditions, and drainage problems | |
| Business owners want additional security and enforcement by city and police | |
| Residents want a focus on the neighborhoods | |
| Towpath extension is a good idea, but other issues should be addressed first | |
| Train Avenue has been neglected for far too long, and needs to be addressed |
| Our objective was to plan and host focus group sessions to determine the responsiveness of residents and business owners in the Clark-Metro, Stockyards, and Tremont areas to gain an understanding of how the Train Avenue corridor is perceived currently and what the future could hold, including a proposed extension of the Towpath Trail. |
| We used two principle reference sources in designing our approach to the use of focus groups for the Train Avenue corridor. | ||
| Susskind, L., et al, The Consensus Building Handbook, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publishing Company, 1999. | ||
| Used for techniques and processes to establish consensus | ||
| Gould, Peter and White, Rodney, Mental Maps, New York, Routledge Publishing Company, 1993. | ||
| Used strictly for the residential group for the use and analysis of maps | ||
| We first developed a set of questions each for the residents and business owners, along with surveys, comment cards, and a residents-only mapping exercise, and then hosted separate focus group sessions. | |
| Using these tools, we were able to ascertain the assets and issues facing the area according to the different groups, and to gauge responsiveness to future development | |
| Business Owners | ||
| Survey Results | ||
| Responses to Questions | ||
| Residents | ||
| Survey Results | ||
| Mapping Exercise | ||
| Responses to Questions | ||
| Attendees were given a quick survey to complete after signing in and prior to the start of the meeting. Through this tool we gauged: | |
| Basic demographic information, such as owner/renter status and length of occupancy | |
| Some of the assets and issues of the area |
| Examples of survey questions: | |
| Address or closest intersection | |
| Type of business | |
| Is the customer base in the area |
| Responses to the following questions: | |
| “Why have you kept your business in this area?” | |
| “Easily accessible to freeways for towing in the city” | |
| “Expensive to move” | |
| “Convenient” | |
| “Convenient” | |
| “Why is this area a good place for you to do business?” | |
| “Centrally located for city towing” | |
| “It is not” | |
| “What impediments are there to maintaining your business in this area?” | |
| “High security!” | |
| “Security” | |
| “Trash on streets” | |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| The questions written for the business group focused on the Train Avenue Corridor | |
| Assets: | |
| Good location for their businesses; proximity to downtown | |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| Issues: | |
| Safety issues | |
| People living in woods | |
| Abandoned property | |
| Illegal dumping | |
| Lack of enforcement; double standards | |
| Lack of support from councilperson |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| Other: | |
| None were aware of Walworth Run | |
| Vague knowledge of the Towpath Trail | |
| Felt that a Trail extension would not impact their businesses | |
| No clear idea or strong feelings on what to develop along Train | |
| Strongly desire road and sewer repairs |
| Examples of survey questions: | |
| Address or closest intersection | |
| Length of occupancy | |
| Age | |
| Work location | |
Resident Survey Results: Assets
| Responses to the question, “Please list three great things about your neighborhood,” fell into four general categories: | ||
| Central location to city and amenities | ||
| “Close to facilities” | ||
| “Centralized location” | ||
| Close to main arteries of transportation | ||
| “Convenient to freeways and main streets” | ||
| “Close to transportation” | ||
| The built environment | ||
| “Old Victorian houses” | ||
| “Wonderful old architecture” | ||
| Quality of life | ||
| “Diversity” | ||
| “Great neighbors” | ||
Resident Survey Results: Issues
| Responses to the question, “What are the three things that you would like to see changed in your neighborhood?”: | ||
| Train Avenue cleanliness | ||
| “Dumping on Train Avenue” | ||
| “Chuck Holes filled more [than] once a decade” | ||
| General cleanliness | ||
| “Clean alleys and Train Avenue” | ||
| “Better maintenance” | ||
| Safety and security | ||
| “Crime” | ||
| “More safety programs” | ||
| Quality of life | ||
| “A video store” | ||
| “More block clubs” | ||
| The resident focus group was asked to draw their neighborhoods in a Mental Mapping exercise. The point was to determine how the members of the group actually saw and used the various assets and streets in the neighborhood | |
| Three of the seven maps specifically pointed out and commented upon Train Avenue | |
| Five out of seven stressed how long-term residents viewed neighborhood. On these, noted were what some of the empty or converted buildings had been (breweries and slaughterhouses) | |
| When drawing their neighborhoods, the individuals drew them very tightly, i.e., within a very limited space of their residence | |
| Very little green space was noted |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| The questions developed for the residential group focused on two distinct topics: the Train Avenue Corridor and Assets/Weaknesses | |
| Assets: | |
| Location and proximity to downtown | |
| Good neighbors | |
| Old architecture |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| Issues: | |
| Train has always been run-down and has historically been used as a garbage dump | |
| Trash | |
| Crime and drugs | |
| Area lacks many basic amenities like restaurants and green space | |
| Lack of enforcement of ordinances | |
Findings: Responses to Questions
| Other: | |
| Three of the attendees drive Train regularly | |
| About half have used the Towpath. | |
| “Affordable housing shouldn’t start at $300,000.” | |
| Green space or a ballpark would be a good use, but they must be maintained by somebody |
| Business owners and residents admit that the area is a dumping ground- a place where speed limits are broken and an overall unsafe place to be at night. While the blame for the areas condition varies, both groups agree that the area can, and should be, cleaned up. | |
| Dumping and trash is a major issue | |
| The road and drainage needs to be repaired | |
| Abandonment of properties and disrepair brings the entire area down |
| There is a much more positive feeling about Train Avenue and the neighborhood at-large among the residents compared to the business owners | |
| Business owners have a focus on short-term actions like road repairs | |
| Residents are more focused on what the neighborhood used to be and what it should be |
| For any development to be possible along Train Avenue, it would be necessary to align the viewpoints and needs of both the residents and business owners | |
| The idea of opening up the stream and building a multi-purpose trail connecting to the Towpath was well received by business owners and residents alike |
| Business Question List | |
| Resident Question List | |
| Business Owner Sign-in Sheet | |
| Resident Sign-in Sheet |
| Train Avenue Corridor | |
| If you had the opportunity to redevelop Train Avenue from a clean slate yet with the present transportation system intact, including the railroad tracks, I-90, etc., what would you put there? | |
| If the infrastructure consisted of a natural stream and bike path [an extension of the Towpath Trail], what impact would this have on businesses along Train Avenue? | |
| Do you think a recreation area can safely co-exist with the type of traffic and businesses that are on Train regularly? | |
| What do you think are the best reasons for businesses to be located along Train Avenue? Near the Flats? Near I-90? Cheap land? | |
| Other than road improvements, what would make Train Avenue work better for you? | |
| What are the worst aspects [other than the condition of the road] about Train Avenue? | |
| Is there anything that can be done in the areas surrounding the Train Avenue corridor that can make the area more successful? Do you have any specific ideas about how this can happen? | |
| Discuss where the results of this meeting will go – Dr. Kellogg | |
| Train Avenue Corridor | ||
| When you think of the Train Avenue corridor, what images come to mind? | ||
| Does Train Avenue have any impact on your neighborhood? | ||
| Do you use Train Avenue? How, when and why? | ||
| Have you ever visited the towpath trail or the Cleveland Metroparks? | ||
| Do you think residents would use an extension of the towpath? | ||
| What do you think about “day lighting” the Walworth Run? | ||
| Assets/Weaknesses | ||
| What is the greatest geographic asset of the neighborhood? (Ex. Proximity to downtown, Metro Hospital, the Cuyahoga Valley, etc.) | ||
| Is there anything you feel your neighborhood lacks? (Ex. Soccer field, baseball diamond, shopping opportunities, etc.) | ||
| Where do you do most of your shopping? (Differentiate between grocery and general retail.) | ||
| Have you visited anywhere that had attributes that you would like to have here? Explain. | ||
| Do you think Train Avenue can succeed as an area for recreation or are there too many physical barriers? | ||
| Do you have a preference regarding new homes or restored older (historic) homes? | ||
| If new housing was added to the neighborhood, what type would you like to see developed? (Ex. Doubles, apartments, luxury condos, single family homes, etc.) | ||
| What should be done with the vacant foundry site? | ||
| What should be done with the building near the West 25th Street bridge? | ||