EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
According to a study released Thursday, if Evansville wants to keep young professionals in the city, it has to revitalize downtown.
This research involved nearly a thousand people.
What was found is the number one reason people don't stay in Evansville comes down to Main Street.
"A lot of my friends have moved to big cities like Cincinnati and Chicago," says property manager Charles Riffert.
Almost all of his classmates moved out of town after school. Five months ago, a group began studying why.
"We wanted to get more of a clear direction on what we can do as a community to address the issue," says A.C. Braun of Greater Evansville: The Place for Young Professionals.
What the study found is Evansville has several issues, starting with an east side/west side split with no central core.
"We have had previous downtown master plans and they haven't been taken out in a while. To be able to attract knowledgeable workers and to be able to attract businesses downtown, you need to have the vibrancy in downtown," says Braun.
Researchers found one way streets and high rents are keeping people off Main Street.
They also found the city is underutilizing it's amenities, including not using resources like the Ohio River.
"There is no central theme that all the citizens rally around, where you have Cincinnati as the Queen City and the pride you have in say, Chicago," notes Braun.
Also, more people talk down Evansville than talk good about it and that doesn't help attract people here.
"Evansville isn't appreciated for all it has to offer," says Charles Riffert.
"We do have a lot of assets, so if we find an appropriate way to utilize them, we should be a community people are proud to be part of," says Braun.
Research did find that people who stay in the area do for four main reasons.
- Family and friends
- Affordable housing
- Ease of getting around
- Because it is safe.
The full of copy this study isn't public yet.
It's expected to be released within a couple of weeks.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
