Survey finds that Buffalo Grove residents feel safe, want better downtown

A survey of Buffalo Grove residents about their community netted a high response rate but no surprises

In May, the village commissioned the National Research Center's National Citizen Survey to ask residents about their community. Nearly 1,500 households received the survey, with more than 400 completing it, a response rate of better than 25 percent.

Among the conclusions, survey consultant Jade Arocha of the National Research Center told the board Monday, was that safety is a key contributor to the quality of life in Buffalo Grove. At least 9 in 10 residents indicated they felt safe in their neighborhoods, in the commercial area and overall. The same proportion of residents agreed that Buffalo Grove is a desirable place to live and raise a family.

Although residents expressed appreciation for the overall economic health of the community, "respondents' evaluations of the community as a place to visit, the vibrancy of the downtown/commercial area, shopping opportunities and new development lagged behind national and peer comparisons, indicating improvements to the downtown area could be an area of focus."

Of course, Buffalo Grove doesn't officially have a downtown, but finding ways to bolster the town's commercial areas is a regular topic for village officials.

The survey will be followed by a "Next Steps Workshop" in January that will assist in developing a strategy and offer recommendations.