Fort Wayne, Ind. (Apr. 28, 2022)—A large majority of young adults—80%—give high marks to the Fort Wayne area’s quality of life. That’s according to a 2021 Smart Growth poll of Allen County residents, age 21-35, commissioned by the Upstate Alliance of REALTORS® (UPSTAR). Parks, festivals, dining and outdoor recreation were among the leading factors attracting young residents to visit downtown Fort Wayne, and 4 in 10 poll respondents said they would consider living downtown despite questions about housing availability and affordability.
This multi-modal survey, designed and administered by American Strategies and conducted by professional interviewers, includes survey responses from 475 adults, age 21-35, who reside in Allen County. UPSTAR’s goal in commissioning the survey was to provide REALTORS® and local economic development agencies with insight on the availability and affordability of housing and the quality of life in downtown Fort Wayne.
Of the 80% who had positive views of the area’s quality of life, 25% called it “excellent” while 55% rated it as “good.” When asked what would improve the Fort Wayne area’s quality of life, respondents’ top preferences included more parks and recreational opportunities, improved walkability and increased options for downtown nightlife.
A majority of respondents (65%) visit downtown Fort Wayne more than once a month, with 43% visiting at least weekly. The most popular aspects of downtown among respondents included parks and trails, festivals and the food scene (restaurants/bars).
When asked what would motivate them to visit downtown Fort Wayne more often, respondents listed “more convenient places to park” as the top factor. Help is on the way on that front; more than 1,800 new parking spaces are being added as part of three downtown projects currently under construction: The Riverfront at Promenade Park, The Lofts at Headwaters Park, and STAR Financial Bank’s new headquarters.
While 42% of respondents said they would consider living downtown, housing availability and affordability were mentioned as concerns. Just over a quarter (26%) said availability is a “very” or “fairly” big problem, and 50% didn’t believe they could afford to live downtown, while 48% said they could afford to do so.
“We were pleased to work with the City of Fort Wayne to conduct this research to measure how residents feel about the downtown area, and how we can work together to improve the quality of life for all our residents,” said David Belew, Chief Executive Officer of Upstate Alliance of REALTORS®. “Here at UPSTAR, we are particularly interested in issues surrounding housing, and we will continue to work with city and county officials to improve the availability and affordability of housing in our area.”
“It’s no accident that Fort Wayne is among the fastest-growing metros in the Great Lakes region. Our community is a great place to live and do business, and that’s a key driver as we recruit and retain residents and businesses,” said Ellen Cutter, chief economic development officer at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “We’re always looking for ways to continue improving the community, and this data will be extremely valuable in guiding our efforts moving forward.”
Aside from some concerns about housing availability downtown, young adults were clear about their likes and desires for downtown amenities and quality of life.
View the full survey results here.
UPSTAR commissioned the study, in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS®, during the July-August 2021 timeframe to incorporate the views of college students who were home from school. To learn more about UPSTAR, visit UpstarIndiana.com.
