Julie Jones' Blog

In a recent Gallup Poll reported by FloridaRealtor.com, economics is not the key driver in community attachment as many may believe.  This survey showed that of the three highest ranking draws to community attachment, the first priority was openness.

It is exciting to read that tolerance for population diversity commands the highest attraction to loving one’s community.  Cities and towns favorable to people all ages, income levels, cultural and racial differences and educational backgrounds earn the most loyalty.   

Second most important community-engaging requirement is social offerings.  Cities and towns offering downtown revitalizations, parks and pet-friendly areas, a vibrant nightlife, active cultural centers, civic activities and friendly neighborhoods form the major requirements for community constancy.  Regular community interaction cements a sense of ‘neighborhood’ with its inhabitants.

The third most important factor in community attachment is aesthetics.  A city/town’s physical setting and “green” attributes are more important for those surveyed than public safety or improved highways.  This encourages consideration of environmental factors and the use of “green” materials in urban design and new construction.

What please me most about reading this information, is that Fort Lauderdale offers each of these top three requirements to those choosing to live, work and play in this tropical paradise, which was one of the driving forces in my choice to live here.  Now, I am curious to know:  What attracts you to where you live?