Survey results show desire for retail, grocery and eateries downtown
By Jamie Richard, Correspondent, CoatesvilleTimes.com
Based on a survey delivered to the City Council Monday, city residents want more shopping in the downtown area, including grocery stories and restaurants.
COATESVILLE – City council members were given the opportunity to review community input on the future of of the city at their meeting Monday.
Dr. Peter Angelides, vice president and director of Econsult Corporation came before the council to present the results of a survey being conducted in Coatesville. The survey polled both residents and nonresidents of the city in an attempt to get vision of what Coatesville should look like in the next five to ten years.
The survey is part of an early intervention program in its final stages and focuses on downtown Coatesville, defined as the stretch of Lincoln Hwy. between 1st and 4th Ave. The goal of the program is broken into three parts: provide a vision for downtown Coatesville, prepare a retail strategy and to investigate inexpensive amenity upgrades.
The survey showed that responders were interested in seeing downtown being developed for a variety of uses, including: office space, retail space, performance space, cultural space, hotels and residential areas. Responders were also concerned with the general appearance of downtown as well, hoping to make shops more inviting and the entire area more pedestrian friendly. Angelides agreed with the survey takers’ sentiments.
“That’s what you want, to get people on the streets and into the stores,” said Angelides.
Angelides also stressed the importance of developing more shopping opportunities downtown to the council. By first establishing small businesses, Angelides explained that the city could bring in the customers needed to attract larger retailers.
“With exception to clothing, there’s a huge retail demand in downtown Coatesville,” said Angelides.
Survey results showed a high demand for additional shopping and retail in the downtown area and nearly 50% of survey takers admitted that they rarely, if ever, shop in Coatesville. Responders were interested in seeing an increase in almost all types of retail, with casual dining and grocery stores at the top of the list.
Responders also expressed a desire to see minor repairs and additions to the amenities in downtown Coatesville. The survey listed sidewalk repairs as the number one priority, although responders were also interested in adding bike paths, streetlights and new trees, as well as improving existing amenities like parks and playgrounds.
As of Monday, 325 people had taken the survey, which remains open on the city’s website. Assistant City Manger Kirby Hudson urged audience members to take the survey and to encourage others to participate as well.
“It’s very important that we hear from just about everybody, if possible,” said Hudson.
Other business included the adoption of an ordinance to reduce the number of Planning Commission members from seven to five and considering a resolution to keep the Catholic Worship Center in Coatesville.
The Coatesville City Council will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 27.
