City Services Satisfaction Survey 2007 City Services Satisfaction Survey | Page 18

Neighborhoods
Arlington residents continue to rate their neighborhoods positively in terms of quality of
life (79% “excellent” or “good”). However, the rating dipped below 80 percent for the
second time since 2000. The ratings dropped from 82 percent in 2005 to 79 percent
this year.
The main aspect that determines residents’ perception of the quality of life in their
neighborhood is the feeling of safety, consistent with the city ratings. Thirty nine
percent of residents rated feeling of safety as the most important. Feeling of safety
includes feeling of safety in your neighborhood, peaceful/quiet, and crime rate.
Neighborhood appearance/condition was next with 21 percent rating it as most
important.
Neighborhood appearance included physical condition/appearance of
residential property, cleanliness, condition of streets, adequacy of street lighting, trees,
physical condition/appearance of shops and stores, and condition of sidewalks. Sense
of community rated third with a rating of 15 percent. Educational environment,
convenient location, and availability of entertainment venues were all reported by 3
percent of respondents. Availability of recreation facilities, economy, and management
of traffic all received less than 3 percent mention.
Condition of major streets and condition of residential streets are perceived as the
biggest problems facing city neighborhoods. Among other areas viewed as a major or
at least somewhat of a problem by more than 20 percent of Arlington residents are: car
burglaries, residential burglaries, stray animals, dilapidated fences, property
cleanliness/maintenance, street lighting, and trash and litter.
Residents’ perceptions of neighborhood problems generally appear to be consistent
with measures from the previous years, with changes due primarily to the changing of
the questions asked. Condition of major and residential streets and car/residential
burglaries remain among the top five concerns for residents.
Neighborhoods in Arlington continue to be rated very safe for walking alone during the
day (very safe 72%, somewhat safe 24%), though much lower at night, as only about
one out of three residents say they would feel very safe walking alone in their
neighborhood at night.
Decision Analyst, Inc.
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