Five Steps for Connecting to Downtown Residents

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, October 25, 2007, at 11:23PM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I took the train down to Long Beach today to take part in a panel at the California Downtown Association’s annual conference. Speaking to an audience of individuals mostly from cities and business improvement districts, I took part in a session was called “Urban Density and Downtown Residents.” They had invited me to give the resident’s perspective on who was moving Downtown and why. I spoke for fifteen or twenty minutes, and was followed by Jamie Licko of Progressive Urban Management and Jim Anderson of Anderson Pacific.

After starting a little bit with my background and how I ended up Downtown, I gave the audience five steps downtown organizations should be taking to connect to their residents. These seemed to go over well at the session, so I thought I’d go ahead and share them here.

First, listen. You can’t answer a question you don’t hear. Find where residents are talking. Be proactive about scouting out the blogs and forums. If a hub for conversation doesn’t exist, create it.

Second, educate. We residents are an impatient bunch. We want everything now, and we don't understand the process and what slows things up. Help us understand that process.

Third, enable. Tell us where we can help. Tell us who to call, who to email and what meetings to attend. We want to take part in shaping our downtown.

Fourth, respond. Find complaints and suggestions that you can tackle, and show us that you're listening. If something requires a long term solution, tell us that and tell us how you plan to make it happen.

Finally, anticipate. Look at your demographic of today and use it to figure out what that demographic is going to be in 5 and 10 years. Start solving those problems today so that you're ready when the time comes.



Comments

1
David Kennedy writes:

Who is moving downtown and why?

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 09:03 AM
2
Naturallawyer writes:

DK: USC students and young professionals who either went to USC or want to be closer to work. There has been much commentary that the post-9/11 working generation (I was interviewing for jobs during 9/11) wants more free time to spend with friends and family (and less on working/commuting). Downtown living serves that goal because of the smaller commute and convenient amenities.

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 09:35 AM
3
David Kennedy writes:

NL: Thanks for the input. I have lived downtown for about ten years, so I have some sense of who downtown residents are (although I'm sure this is evolving).

My question was directed at Eric because he was asked to give the resident's perspective on these questions. I'd also like to know how others on the panel answered the question. I think these answers might be of interest. The subject is entangled in a lot of stereotypes and certainly ripe for discussion.

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 09:47 AM
4
Bert Green writes:

USC and young professionals are only a small part of it. There are all kinds of people moving downtown, and there is no easy way to categorize it. I have met grandmothers, artists, divorcees, gay couples, students, young professionals, and much much more.

It's a community made up of all kinds of people, like anywhere else.

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 09:54 AM
5
Brian Humphrey writes:

Bravo Eric, Bravo! Yes, it all starts with listening.

Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,

Brian Humphrey Firefighter/Specialist Public Service Officer Los Angeles Fire Department

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 10:45 AM
6
Naturallawyer writes:

DK: Sorry, I misunderstood the purpose of your question.

BG: I hope I didn't imply that I thought the groups I identified were the only ones moving downtown. I'm just more aware of the motivations of those groups than I am of other groups.

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 11:38 AM
7
Don Garza writes:

Congratulations on your speech!!!! Good to hear you are using your talents to educate .

# on Oct.26.2007 AT 10:59 PM
8
cc writes:

I was considering buying a place om downtown LA but ended up moving to downtown LB. My husband works in Newport Beach and I work in Redono Beach so Long Beach is a happy medium. Urban living is fun amd we are enjoying it.

# on Oct.28.2007 AT 12:01 AM

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