The Grand Junction Chamber is a membership driven organization so when the Chamber was asked recently to consider the issue of renaming North Avenue to University Boulevard board leadership directed staff to survey the 43 business members on North Avenue, those most affected, for their input prior to such a discussion.
Of the 43 members invited to participate 23 took the time to complete the survey and three others chose to call the Chamber directly to offer their insights. Shown below is a summary of the survey responses:
Question: Do you think the Chamber should take a position on the proposal to rename North Avenue University Boulevard?
- 78.26% said yes (18 responses)
- 17.39% said no (4 responses)
- 4.35% said “I don’t care” (1 response)
Question: If you answered Yes on Question 1, what position should the Chamber take?
- 40.91% said support the name change (9 responses)
- 40.91 said oppose the name change (9 responses)
- 18.18% said remain neutral (4 responses)
Question: What other comments would you like to make as the board considers this issue?
18 respondents chose to make comments on the name change and five of them indicated a desire to look at 12th Street as an option for University Boulevard rather than North Avenue. Those supporting the name change cited
- The idea of reinventing this sector of the community is a good one
- This fits in timely with the recently completed re-branding study
- North Avenue has a bad stigma attached and changing the name would help to reinvigorate the area
- It sounds better than North Avenue. Grand Junction is college town so it’s a good idea
Cost and expenses to businesses were cited in several of the statements of those opposed to the change along with:
- There is no reason to change it. It is just a name and unless you clean up the area nothing will change
- A huge number of small businesses will be impacted
- It is not just the cost of reprinting materials, it is the labor required to change addresses for suppliers, vendors and government reports that would be tough on small businesses
- It will create confusion similar to the confusion of Patterson Road which is also F Road
Question: Other comments you’d like to give to Chamber leadership.
Eight respondents chose to provide additional comments including:
- It is the fear of the unknown that creates this opposition.
- We should identify the costs and share that information before we ask for feedback. I think that those opposed will then favor the change
- Consider the impact to maps, GPS, freight companies, advertising material, invoices, business cards signage, billboard signs, in house paperwork…the list is very long and more than is being considered by proponents
- Is there a way the Chamber could support businesses that experience hardship with this change?
What benefit is there really to the name change for businesses along North Avenue? - Fight for the little guy
The Chamber Board will be considering all of the survey results at their August board meeting and wishes to thank those members who took the time to respond to this request for input.
Click here to download full version of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce September 2015 Newsletter.