Residents happy with Newark’s quality of life

The 2009 survey was comprised of ten questions that rated quality of life, city services, the importance of each service, frequency of use, neighborhood characteristics, city events, and downtown characteristics.  It also asked responders to list three things in the following categories: likes, dislikes, biggest challenges, and businesses they would like to see open in Newark.  A comments section and section listing the household’s demographics rounded out the form.  The survey is released every five years, with the last one mailed out in 2004.

Approximately 1,200 forms were returned, producing a return rate of about 25 percent.  A sample of 600 questionnaires was selected, 100 randomly chosen from each district, to produce a sample group that gave a 95 percent confidence level, with a 3.5 percent margin of error.

About 98 percent of residents reported that they were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with Newark’s quality of life.  Approximately 94 percent said the same about the quality of their neighborhood, while 97 percent stated that they were happy with the overall quality of City of Newark services.

The largest increase in resident satisfaction of services showed in the quality of water for the city showing a 21 percent increase (from 57 percent to 78 percent) in favorability over 2004’s rating.  Traffic control and repairing of major and neighborhood streets all showed a double-digit increase in favorability, while bike lanes and trails, recreation programs, and UNICITY Bus favorability ratings all showed slight decreases since the last survey.

City services rated as the five most important were police protection, electric service, trash/garbage collection, water quality, and major street repairs.  The Newark Trolley, City website, UNICITY Bus, City newsletter, and neighborhood parking were the five least important services listed.

As to receiving updated information about Newark, 46 percent of residents said that they use Channel 22 at least once a year to find out about community information; roughly 55 percent said they use the city website, and 88 percent said they use the newsletter as their information source.

When asked to list the three things you like most about living in Newark, most reported the quality of the neighborhoods, the number of city services, Newark’s design and appearance, and affordability as some of the top reasons.  Traffic, crime, rapid growth, and University of Delaware student behavior were some of the top things responders listed as their least favorite.

The economic development and the consequences of growth (overpopulation, traffic, crime) were the top items listed as the biggest challenges Newark will face in the next five years.

As to what types of businesses Newarkers want to see, retailers like Target, more upscale and ethnic dining, more high-tech and “green” companies, enhanced medical services, and a movie or arts theater were the most requested.

City Manager Kyle Sonnenberg said that the questionnaire will be used a tool to improve upon unfavorable services and to see how far already favorable items have come in the past five years.  Though the results will probably not impact budgetary numbers, Sonnenberg did state that the questionnaire has proven to be a valuable item for input into the overall plan of the city.

In other news, the council approved the recommendations of the Planning Committee for the new Army Reserve Center project at 1001 Ogletown Rd. 

Though demolition and a ribbon cutting ceremony have already occurred on the 21-acre property, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been cleared to begin the construction of the 81,000 square foot center on the site.

In a presentation before the council, representatives of the project stated that center will utilize as many “green” technologies as possible and will be LEED Silver-certified.  It will also feature an open design and a significant use of landscaping.

Completion and move-in are scheduled between April 26 and June 30, 2011.