Westshore Alliance Celebrates a Successful Year and the Launch of its Inaugural District-Wide Survey

TAMPA, Fla. (March 22, 2018) The Westshore Alliance is a membership-based organization of business and community leaders, founded in 1983. In the past 35 years, the organization has advocated for improvements in the areas of transportation, urban development, marketing, public safety, education and has served as a community connector, on behalf of its more than 400 member businesses. The Alliance’s mission is to promote, shape future growth and foster economic prosperity of the Westshore Business District.

With a footprint that encompasses approximately 10 square miles, the scope of the district is immense and growing at a level that outpaces that of the city of Tampa, county of Hillsborough and state of Florida as a whole. The district includes a workforce 97,000 strong, and a growing residential population of approximately 15,000 at present. Additionally, the district’s proximity to world-class shopping, entertainment and restaurants has quickly repositioned Westshore from its prior claim to fame as a premier 9-5 office district, to a major mixed-use community, attracting millions of visitors each year.

Recognizing the present as an important time to collect a benchmark evaluation of the district from the perception of its stakeholders, the Westshore Alliance disseminated a Request for Qualifications for a firm to conduct a district-wide resident and worker study last May. HCP responded, sharing the firm’s depth of experience with district surveying—most recently within areas of Pinellas County, the Downtown Tampa Special Services District and the Ybor City Historic District. The firm was chosen to provide a proposal for the scope of work requested.

Over a series of months, HCP conducted primary and secondary research. Efforts included interviews, online surveys, Census data and GIS mapping, updates to existing population statistics, and collecting benchmarks for stakeholder perceptions.

During the Westshore Alliance’s recent Annual Meeting, Chairman Jay Botsch of WestShore Plaza and Westshore Alliance Executive Director Ann Kulig offered top line teaser results from the recently completed stakeholder study.

“Tampa’s Westshore District has evolved to a vibrant urban community, making this is a great time to learn more about the district’s employees and the growing number of people who call Westshore home,” said Westshore Alliance Executive Director Ann Kulig. “We look forward to sharing the insights from this study during our Development Forum. We have never before had access to this level of district demographics, and preferences, perceptions and activities of those who work, live and play here.”

Following the Westshore Alliance Development Forum, the results will be made available on the Westshore Alliance website.

“We were pleased to collaborate with the Westshore Alliance on this landmark study to help them gain an understanding of the values and expectations of those frequenting the district,” said HCP Senior Research Director Sarah Lindemuth. “The story doesn’t end here. As we wrap up data analysis the next step is to work with the Alliance to further examine the results to help them communicate the amazing assets of the district as it continues to thrive.”

For more information on the Westshore District, visit the Westshore Alliance’s website, http://www.choosewestshore.com.