TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa CRA released new results on Thursday from its livability study focused on Ybor City, offering a detailed look at how residents and workers feel about the historic district’s strengths and where improvements are still needed.
The voluntary survey, done every other year, addressed four key categories, including retail, mobility and parking, cleanliness, and safety.
What You Need To Know
Survey detailed four key areas for residents and workers in Ybor City, including retail, mobility and parking, cleanliness and safety
Although most areas saw improvements compared to the last study, residents and workers say there is still room for enhancements
Cleanliness saw the biggest boost in the survey this year compared to last year
More essential retail dominated the survey as the most needed by residents, including grocery stores and pharmacies
PREVIOUS: Resident & Worker Data (.pdf)
While several areas showed progress compared to previous years, respondents made it clear that challenges remain.
One of the most improved categories was cleanliness.
Two years ago, this category had the largest expectation gap among respondents. This year, it dropped to the third-largest gap, indicating that recent efforts to maintain streets and public spaces are being noticed.
Retail options in Ybor City generated significant feedback.
Sixty-five percent of residents and 55% of workers said they were dissatisfied with the availability of retail stores.
An overwhelming 87% expressed a desire for more everyday-needs retailers, including grocery stores and pharmacies.
The data suggests a strong community push for practical, daily-use businesses — something many feel is lacking in the district.
Safety continues to be one of the biggest concerns among respondents.
Participants prioritized a visible police presence (76%), more security cameras (71%) and enhanced street lighting (69%).
Street-lighting improvements are already underway through Tampa’s Vision Zero Project, which aims to improve safety and reduce traffic-related incidents.
Mobility and parking received mixed responses in the survey.
Residents reported improved satisfaction compared to last year, but workers were far less satisfied, especially with employee parking availability.
While 50% of those surveyed said they were happy with available parking, 36% reported being “completely dissatisfied,” highlighting a wide gap in experiences among commuters and employees.
According to city officials, the annual survey acts as a guide as Ybor continues to evolve.
The data helps city planners and project leaders understand community needs and measure how new initiatives are impacting daily life.
Survey feedback essentially provides a year-over-year “report card,” helping Tampa track progress and better address the concerns of residents, workers and visitors.