PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS WNA HOMEPAGE
Willard
Neighborhood
Needs & Assets Assessment
February 2003
Summary
During
the latter half of 2002 the Willard Beach Master Plan Committee conducted a
neighborhood survey polling residents on what they like, dislike, or would like
to see different in their neighborhood. Of
the 900 surveys mailed, 390 (43%) were returned.
Of those who responded, 261 had lived or done business in the
neighborhood for more than five years.
The
twenty-two-question survey asked for input in a number of areas that included
needs/wants of the neighborhood, Willard Beach and housing.
When asked what public improvements are needed within the neighborhood an
overwhelming response was given to heavy item pickup (192 votes) and retaining
dead-end streets (150). Other
popular items included beach beautification (120), sidewalk and crosswalk
installation (117), a roundabout in Willard Square (99), more open space (92),
and more street trees (91). Favorable
economic opportunities for the neighborhood included a mom & pop store
(191), a coffee shop (164), and ice cream shop (127), all in Willard Square, and
boat and kayak rentals (130). Water-related,
environmentally sound development was favored, with aquaculture, clamming and
seaweed harvesting being popular waterfront activities.
Throughout
the survey, many respondents mentioned that they enjoyed the cultural diversity
of the neighborhood and wanted to promote this. When asked what types of uses could be brought into the
neighborhood, many asked for cultural events at Fisherman’s Point (146), more
neighborhood playgrounds (124), the implementation of public art and sculpture
(113), and the defining of a neighborhood center (102).
A
big part of the Willard Neighborhood is Willard Beach, which offers scenic
beauty and public access not only to neighborhood residents but also those from
afar. Though many use the beach
daily throughout the year, the committee found that 58% or 207 out of 353 polled
use the beach at least twice a week, while 16% use the beach at least once a
week. During the non-summer months,
the percentage drops to 44% or 154 for at least twice a week and 16% for once a
week.
Over
the last few years, maintenance of the beach has been an on-going concern of
many of the neighborhood residents. When
polled, only 9%, 30 out of 342 respondents, considered the beach to be very well
maintained. The majority of
respondents felt that the beach was adequately maintained.
These were similar responses to the survey question about maintenance of
the stairs and walkways at the beach. When
asked about available parking for the beach, of the 312 who responded, 207 or
66% thought that an adequate amount of parking was available for beach users.
Over
the last two years, housing has emerged as a top concern within the Willard
Neighborhood. Recent events (including a subdivision on Willow Street, the
inflated prices of real estate, and the recent revaluation of the neighborhood
properties by the city) have resulted in concerns regarding density and
affordability. When asked whether the housing prices promote a mixed
income population, the neighborhood was split, with 33% feeling that not enough
affordable homes are in the neighborhood, while 31% felt that the neighborhood
had a sufficient number. One
hundred and five or 35% polled were not sure whether the neighborhood had enough
housing to promote a mixed income population.
Of the 324 who responded, 292 or 90% believed that dense
developments were not desirable in the neighborhood. When asked whether the neighborhood could support more
apartments, single family homes or cluster developments, 28%, or 108 answered
positively. When asked whether
height restrictions or regulations to preserve views were desirable, 72% or 281
of the 389 responded favorably. Overall,
97% felt as though Willard was a safe neighborhood to live in.
Willard
is an old densely populated neighborhood whose house lots tend to be some of the
smallest and most unique in the city. The need for open space and preservation
of buffers is paramount. With the
exception of Small School, SMCC, and Willard Beach, the neighborhood has very
little public open space available, especially wooded parcels.
The remaining undeveloped areas are of great concern to the neighborhood. When asked whether the neighborhood would support the
purchase of open space funded without reliance on city taxes, the majority
supported the idea by a response of 179 to 91.
In
summary, a large majority of respondents appreciates and enjoys the benefits of
the Willard Neighborhood. Many of the respondents agreed that economic growth
should take place in the neighborhood’s existing infrastructure, and new
growth is not desirable. Many of
the neighborhood residents are satisfied with existing city services, but feel
that public infrastructure within the neighborhood could be enhanced through the
city’s capital improvement budget.
NEIGHBORHOOD LAND USE
Single
Family |
|
762 |
|||
Two-Family |
|
65 |
|||
Three-Family
|
|
33 |
|||
Four
Family |
|
11 |
|||
Five
Family |
|
6 |
|||
Six
Family |
|
2 |
|||
Seven
Family |
|
0 |
|||
Eight
Family Plus |
|
7 |
|||
Condominiums |
|
91 |
|||
Commercial
Property |
|
15 |
|||
City
Owned Property |
|
10 |
|||
State/US
Govt. Owned Property |
|
23 |
|||
Private
Non-Profit Owned Property |
|
5 |
|||
Vacant
Land |
|
36 |
|||
(Volunteer
Fire Dept.) |
|
1 |
Mix
of housing types
Single
family
Duplex
Multi-family
Non-profit
Student
housing/Dorm
Parks/Recreation/Open
Space
Spring
Point Shoreway Trail
Fisherman’s
Point
Willard
Beach
SMCC
ballfields
Willard
School Park at Pillsbury/Cottage
Port
Harbor Marina
Public
Safety
Willard
Hose Company #2 (Volunteer Fire Co.)
Police
patrols
Family
services and education
The
Cottage Rd Neighborhood School for the Arts
Small
School
Southern
Maine Community College
Cape
Shore Assembly of God
Historic
value and preservation
Cemetery
(Smith Street)
Old
Settlers Cemetery at SMCC
Spring
Point Ledge Light Trust (Spring Point Light)
Fishing
shacks at Fisherman’s Point
Neighborhood
Livability
Good
neighbors
Parks
Beach
SMCC
ballfields
August
Moon Cafe
Drillen’s Hardware
Beal’s Ice Cream
Barbara’s
Kitchen
Pratt
Abbott Cleaners
Renditions
Gentlemen’s
Choice
One-Fifty-ATE
Flynn & Company
Fore
River Woodworks
CN Brown/Big Apple Launder Center
Dr. Sabean - Dermatologist Phil’s Foreign Auto Campus Book Store
Hair
on the Square
Tradesmark, Inc.
Spring Point Auto
Prescott,Lemoine,Jamieson & Nelson
Howe Photography
TV/VCR Repair
Economic
Development
Willard
Square
Cottage
Road business zones
Expanded
water dependent uses
Pickett
Street business zones
Government
United
States Coast Guard (Breakwater)
Willow
Street Parking Lot
Beach
House
Sanitary
Pump Station
Arts
& Culture
Portland
Players
Portland
Harbor Museum
Front
Room Gallery
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS
General
Public Improvements
Heavy
item pick-up
Beach beautification
More
open space
More street trees
Year
round toilets at Willard Beach
Shuttle service to Amtrak and airport
Adequate
sewer system
Retain
dead-end streets
Sidewalks/crosswalks
Roundabout
at Willard Square
Bike lanes
Traffic
calming Improved road maintenance
Mom &
Pop store in Willard Square
Coffee shop
Boat
and kayak rentals
Ice cream shop in Willard Square
Small businesses
Rental space for artists' studios
Bicycle rentals
Bed & Breakfast establishments
Home businesses SMCC students as boarders
Aquaculture
Clamming
Seaweed harvesting
Public cultural events at Fisherman’s Point Playgrounds
Public art and sculpture Neighborhood Center
Ice
skating Senior Citizens Club
Skate board facility