PlanPhilly Survey

December 2008

December 2009

Participation

2008

Total Participants:

315

Overall Participation:

80.2%

2009

Total Participants:

305

Overall Participation:

81.4%

Demographics

2008 vs. 2009

Decade Born

2008 1920s – 1.0% 1930s – 8.0% 1940s – 19.9% 1950s – 19.0% 1960s – 18.3% 1970s – 18.0% 1980s – 13.5% 1990s – 0.0%

2009 1920s – 1.7% 1930s – 5.1% 1940s – 17.4% 1950s – 22.9% 1960s – 15.4% 1970s – 19.1% 1980s –17.7% 1990s – 0.7%

Gender

2008Male – 58.0%Female – 42.0%

2009Male – 55.4%Female – 44.6%

Education Level

2008 8th - 0.7% 12th – 9.8% Bachelor’s – 40.4% Master’s – 38.1% Doctorate – 11.1%

2009 8th - 0.3% 12th – 8.4% Bachelor’s – 45.3% Master’s – 36.2% Doctorate – 9.7%

Time Spent on Internet per Week (listed in hours)

2008 > 31 – 21.5% 21-30 – 21.5% 11-20 – 27.4% 5-10 – 24.1% 1-4 – 4.6% < 1 – 1.0%

2009 > 31 – 21.3% 21-30 – 20.3% 11-20 – 30.0% 5-10 – 20.7% 1-4 – 7.0% >1 – 0.7%

Location/Zipcode

2008Top 5 Zipcodes: 19147 – Bella Vista – 12.4% 19106 – Old City – 11.8% 19103 – Logan Square – 10.3% 19146 – Gray’s Ferry – 4.8% 19104 – Powelton – 4.8%

2009Top 5 Zipcodes: 19147 – Bella Vista – 15.1% 19106 – Old City – 9.4% 19125 – Kensington – 7.0% 19103 – Logan Square – 5.7% 19146 – Gray’s Ferry – 5.7%

Issues

Issues that are ConsideredVery Important2008 vs. 2009

Issues Considered Very Important 2008

PLANNING 79.5%

OPEN SPACE 76.1%

ZONING 68.3%

DEVELOPMENT 64.0%

SECURITY/PUBLIC SAFETY 62.9%

TRAFFIC 62.9%

TRANSIT 57.7%

INFRASTRUCTURE 54.2%

PRESERVATION 49.8%

SUSTAINABILITY 34.6%

BILLBOARDS/SIGNAGE 12.1%

Issues Considered Very Important 2009

PLANNING 83.5%

TRANSIT 70.7%

INFRASTRUCTURE 65.2%

DEVELOPMENT 64.8%

SUSTAINABILITY 62.5%

OPENSPACE 59.9%

ZONING 55.8%

PRESERVATION 51.2%

SECURITY/PUBLIC SAFETY 47.0%

TRAFFIC 36.1%

BILLBOARDS/SIGNAGE 18.6%

Issues Considered Very Important2008 vs. 2009

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

PLANNING OPEN SPACE ZONING DEVELOPMENT SAFETY TRAFFIC TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE PRESERVATION SUSTAINABILITY BILLBOARDS

2008 2009

Statement Comparison

2008 vs. 2009

PlanPhilly has the breaking news I’m looking for

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE - 8%

PlanPhilly’s reporting is biased

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE - 5%

PlanPhilly provides comprehensive coverage of design, planning, and development

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + < 1%

PlanPhilly and PennPraxis are the same thing

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE - 8%

I come to PlanPhilly to shape my opinion on issues

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 10%

The articles on PlanPhilly are too long

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 6%

The articles on PlanPhilly provide the right amount of information

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + < 1%

The City of Philadelphia’s built environment is improving

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 7%

Mayor Nutter is doing a good job with planning and economic development

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE - 9%

Mayor Nutter’s administration is transparent in decision making

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE - 10%

I have trouble finding things on PlanPhilly

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 23%

The Inquirer and Daily News do a good job of covering design and planning in Philadelphia

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

AGREE + 1%

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

PlanPhilly is well-designed

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

AGREE - 5%

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

PlanPhilly changes out its news stories too quickly

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + < 1%

I would donate to PlanPhilly to maintain its current coverage level

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

AGREE + 8%

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

I have commented or consider entering a comment in the PlanPhilly comments section

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

AGREE + 11%

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

I believe Philadelphia is headed in the right direction

0.00%

10.00%20.00%30.00%

40.00%50.00%60.00%

70.00%80.00%90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

I have watched video on PlanPhilly

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 10%

I have viewed a slideshow on PlanPhilly

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

2008

YES

NO

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

2009

YES

NO

AGREE + 2%

User Commentary

Data Taken from

Open Ended Statements

Favorite Plan Philly Topics 2009

WATER/RIVERFRONT RELATED 103/213 48.4%

CASINOS/CASINO RELATED 38/213 17.8%

(RE)DEVELOPMENT 23/213 10.8%

PLANNING/PCPC 17/213 8.0%

TRANSIT 12/213 5.6%

GREEN/PARKS/SUSTAINABILITY 9/213 4.2%

ZONING 9/213 4.2%

SITESPECIFIC 8/213 3.8%

PRESERVATION 7/213 3.3%

NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC 6/213 2.8%

DESIGN 4/213 1.9%

More of What? 2009

DEVELOPMENT/DEVELOPERS 36/136 26.5%

NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC 27/136 19.9%

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION 17/136 12.5%

PLANNING 13/136 9.6%

CASINOS 9/136 6.6%

SUSTAINABILITY/GREEN RELATED 8/136 5.9%

VACANT/ABANDONED SITES 8/136 5.9%

OPINION/COMMENTARY 6/136 4.4%

PRESERVATION 5/136 3.7%

GOVERNMENT 4/136 2.9%

MORE PARTICIPATION 4/136 2.9%

ARCHITECTURE 4/136 2.9%

EVENTS 3/136 2.2%

BIKES 3/136 2.2%

Trouble Spots for PlanPhilly 2009

VIDEOS: TOO LONG/PROBLEMS 27.1%

WRITING: TOO LONG/BAD FORMATTING 25.9%

LINKS: UNRESPONSIVE/GLITCHES 18.5%

EASIER PARTICIPATION 7.4%

EVENTS: BETTER DISPLAYED 7.4%

Negative Comments 2008 & 2009

“The reporting on Plan Philly would be better if the writing were more like the old style of journalism, where [opinion] and fact reporting are distinguished and in separate news pieces. The "breaking news" is OK but it would be a good idea to obtain quotes from both sides of an issue in order to be balanced.Sometimes Plan Philly gives a soapbox to advocates without regard to their qualifications or firsthand knowledge of an issue. The presentations like usually do not include reactions from those that are impacted, nor do they include an opportunity for rebuttal that approaches the impact of the original post. Therefore the decision to do these pieces in the future should be carefully considered just as the Inquirer does through its editorial board. Do you have a balanced editorial board or even a stated policy? If so that would be good to share with readers. Thank you for considering this comment.Overall, PlanPhilly is a valuable website and has steadily improved as the months have passed. Keep up the good work.”

“All articles/postings [should] be dated, INCLUDING the YEAR.” “More about the smaller neighborhoods way South of south and way north of

Spring Garden. Center city [won’t] go wrong, its the smaller less affluent neighborhoods that need help/assistance with [planning] issues. These parts should looks as nice as Society Hill, Rittenhouse Square and similar.”

Negative Comments 2008 & 2009

“My perception [is] that PlanPhilly is an outgrowth of the Praxis civic engagement process and, as a result, represents a bias toward this type of activity at the expense of understanding and presenting the investment and market dynamics that also drive and shape development.”

“Site could use a bolder, more exciting design.” “I think it is inappropriate for a foundation to fund a website that masquerades as

an objective news source when it is really very biased and only reflects the opinions of a small group of academics who have no real-world experience in planning, economic development, zoning, government administration.”

“Too sensational and sometimes one-sided.” “The site should be more interactive to allow more structured user content.” “I read most of what you send...but sometimes it is too much, BUT..

congratulations on doing SOMETHING !!! It's been too long (think our good friend, Bacon) since anyone with decent ideas and the follow thru produced for our city.”

Positive Comments 2008 & 2009

“KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! YOUR FORUM IS UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT.” “You are the best source of planning information - I check it at least twice a week.

Articles are neat, well-presented, exceptional coverage. You are unmatched in Philly, it would be great for more reader-writer interaction, maybe more commenting or a panel discussion with writers or contributors or planners/developers/ED/etc. Great work though.”

“I think you do a great job - informative, comprehensive, objective and unbiased, up to the minute.”

“If Plan Philly needs to fundraise to support its operations, I think you have a strong case to do so.”

“This is a great, curatorial view of planning and design in Philly. Think of it as a Huffington post for urban design issues. This is a breath of fresh air. People would pay for this! You should charge a modest fee-tell people it is for upgrades in features. People will send money”

“Keep up the great work! Your reporting is solid especially in covering the waterfront and casinos, and it's great to have a weekly aggregation of planning news stories. I'm also impressed by the events listings -- I've attended film screenings, tours and lectures that I would not have found elsewhere.”

Positive Comments 2008 & 2009

“Citizens care & want to be in the loop” “PlanPhilly has a great listing of events/activities. It's my favorite part of the

email. PlanPhilly is a great "one-pager." If I want more info, the links work and are relevant.”

“You are doing a great job. PlanPhilly is the only one stop source of information about the major planning and development issues in the city. It might be useful to encourage more public feedback and comment about the articles online.

“How about online polling opportunities for the projects you write about.” “I think it is really wonderful that you post letters from readers and citizens,

whether or not they agree with the opinions expressed by PlanPhilly or PennPraxis staffers. That kind of transparency and open debate is so lacking in other areas of our city.”

“Keep up the GREAT work! Publicize your site more widely.” “PlanPhilly does a great job. For whatever reason, not much of a culture has

developed in the "comments" sections of stories; that's why I think it might be useful to have a more developed opinion section, to get more discussion going on the site.”

“You are doing a great job. If a citizen wants to be informed about what's going on, or wants to participate in the decision process, Plan Philly is the place to go.”