The Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area Association is conducting a survey about how people feel about the downtown area.
In the two-pronged approach, Oraclepoll Research is talking with members of the BIA who run businesses downtown and summer students are talking to Sudbury residents to gather input.
The information collected on likes and dislike about the neighbourhood will help determine how the association moves forward and what it spends money on.
Brian McCullagh is the Co-chair of the BIA. He says there is a misconception that the organization is funded by the taxpayers, but it is actually only funded by its 430 members, that include downtown business and land owners.
"They pay an extra levy on top of their tax, so the big misconception out there is that the taxpayers fund the BIA, but they don't. We are funded by members only," said McCullagh.
The association's goal is to improve and attract peple to the city's downtown core and says it’s dedicated to the growth of downtown through policy development, advocacy, special events, and economic development.
McCullagh says the input will help align a new strategic plan to help make the downtown core a better place.
"We want to know: are we on the right track? We have been doing a lot over the years. We just had three new businesses open up in the last two weeks, which is great. We are getting the young people coming downtown, which is great. We want to get everyone to come downtown," said McCullagh.
But, it may be a tough sell. CTV News spoke to some people that raised serious concerns, mainly about safety.
Arlene Richer is a lifelong Sudbury resident. She says she is nervous when she goes downtown to do her banking.
"I am afraid of someone stealing my purse from me and I have to defend myself. When I go to the Scotia Bank, the outlet outside, I am afraid someone is watching me and might mug me and take my money," said Richer.
One man told CTV News that he doesn't feel safe downtown.
"I have seen people using drugs in broad daylight around here, like it's nothing for them. I feel like more of a police presence would definitely be great."
BIA officials say the survey does include questions about safety and people's level of comfort.
"We partner with the social groups, we partner with the police, we partner with other groups in the downtown. We will take the pieces of the survey and work with our partners to come up with that plan," said McCullagh.
Over the last year, the BIA says it has spent money improving lighting downtown and that those efforts are continuing with the addition of solar lights in many areas.
The survey results from the BIA will be made available to the public this fall.
