The Westshore District encompasses approximately 10 square miles and is a business hub in the Tampa Bay region. The Westshore District boasts a workforce population of over 100,000 strong and a growing residential population of approximately 15,000. Additionally, the district’s proximity to world-class shopping, entertainment, and restaurants has quickly diversified Westshore from a premier 9-5 office district to a major mixed-use community, attracting millions of visitors each year. Since 2010, the resident population has grown by 25%, and the worker population has grown by 35%.
The Westshore Alliance, the member-based organization comprised of business and community leaders for the area, approved an agreement between the organization and HCP Associates to conduct a baseline study of the Westshore Business District to identify and understand community needs. The organization looked to HCP Associates for a repeatable method that would enable the study’s facilitation every two years to provide a continual pulse of community sentiments.
There were key factors that needed to be understood to gain a big picture of the area and quality of life. An online survey was fielded and included questions to gauge satisfaction with amenities and assets. Other questions also enabled respondents to weigh in on improvements to be made. The stakeholders that participated included: residents, workers, major employers, and Alliance members.
HCP Associates’ research team designed the questionnaire in collaboration with Westshore Alliance leadership, distributed the survey to prospective respondents, analyzed the data, provided findings to Alliance leadership, and presented the findings at the Westshore Alliance’s Annual Development Forum.
In total, HCP Associates has helped the Westshore Alliance conduct four iterations of the Westshore Resident and Worker Study, completing the most recent study in 2023.