WASHINGTON – Most D.C. area residents are pro-growth, and believe growth increases home values, according to a new WTOP Beltway Poll.
About two-thirds say they believe growth in the region, if done properly, has benefits and advantages, and should be encouraged and fostered.
Only 29 percent of D.C. area residents say growth will jeopardize the quality of life for people in the area, and that growth should be managed or limited.
Four percent say they aren’t sure, and 1 percent refused to answer.
A greater percentage of D.C. residents say they support growth than any other jurisdiction, with 71 percent say they are pro-growth, compared to the 24 percent who say they are not.
In Virginia, 66 percent support growth, compared to 29 percent who oppose it.
In Maryland, 63 percent say they support growth, compared to the 30 percent who oppose it.
Most D.C. area residents (73 percent) also say they believe growth increases the home values. 19 percent disagree, saying growth decreases home values. 7 percent say they don’t know, and 1 percent refused to answer.
Again, the feeling that growth helped home values was felt the strongest in D.C., with 84 percent saying growth increases home values, while 13 percent say it decreases them. 3 percent say they don’t know.
More than 70 percent of residents in Virginia (73 percent) and Maryland (71 percent) say growth increases home values. While 19 percent of Virginia residents and 21 percent of Maryland residents decreases home values.
The rest said they didn’t know or refused to answer.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percent.
The D.C. metro phone survey was conducted among 551 adults age 18 and over, between Feb. 20, 2011 and Feb. 23, 2011. This included representative samples of 200 people in Virginia, 251 in Maryland and 100 in the District.
Heart+Mind Strategies is a non-partisan market research consultancy based in Reston, Va.
WTOP’s Debra Feinstein contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
