The Market for Commercial Development in Lansdowne

Survey Results

| Table of Contents |

As noted earlier, the LEDC’s Board conducted a consumer survey and a business survey during the summer of 2002. Of the 360 respondents to the consumer survey:

  • 52% lived in Lansdowne;
  • 25% worked in zip code 19050, which includes Lansdowne, East Lansdowne, Yeadon, and nearby parts of Upper Darby;
  • Convenience, “small town feeling”, and “friendly and personal service” were consistently mentioned as things that people like about Lansdowne businesses;
  • Issues that people consistently showed concern about were lack of free parking, lack of variety in shops, number of nail shops and pizza stores, run down appearance and vacant buildings, traffic congestion;
  • Stores that people most want to see (45 or more responses) in Lansdowne are sit down restaurants, a movie theatre, and more supermarkets;
  • Others that received some mention (20 or more responses) included bookstore, gift/card store, hardware store, clothing store, and coffee/bagel shop;
  • A few responses (10 to 20) came in for a Wal-Mart/Target, a bakery, music store, fast food, and water ice/ice cream.

Other types of retailing that were mentioned included more recreation and entertainment, including a skating rink, a renewed farmers’ market, gyms, athletic shoe store, and boutiques and specialty shops.
In summary, Lansdowne’s image to people who shop there, either because they live or work there, is one of a small town where people are friendly and helpful. However, it appears to them to be poorly maintained, impacted by vacant buildings, congested, and lacking the stores that they might want to frequent. These stores included many of the types of retailing that showed substantial retail outflow, including restaurants and a bookstore.
The LEDC conducted a survey of businesses in the summer of 2002. Of the 42 responses that were received:

  • 26% were retailers, and 21% were professional services;
  • 69% were either located at Lansdowne and Baltimore, or home based;
  • 76% named Lansdowne as their only location;
  • 79% have been in business for more than ten years;
  • 71% own the property where their business is located;
  • 44% are single person operations;
  • 96% do not rely on foot traffic;
  • 42% have gross sales under $100,000;
  • 56% said that their gross sales have increased in the past two years;
  • 75% have gained customers in the past two years.

The results of the business survey show similar findings to the retail outflow analysis. Lansdowne is not primarily a retail center, but is rather the home of a number of service establishments of all types, including many small and home based businesses. Most of these businesses are stable, and many proprietors own the property in which they do business. Very few rely on foot traffic, which is understandable because Lansdowne lacks a cluster of retailing that draws customers for multi-purpose trips. Of particular interest is the fact that a clear majority noted that business has improved over the past two years.

| Table of Contents |