Respondents were asked an open ended question, ‘What don’t you like about living in Traverse City?’
Key things to note:
The most pressing frustrations revolve around traffic congestion, rising cost of living, and the impact of tourism on infrastructure and daily life.
Residents feel squeezed by housing costs and frustrated with overcrowding during peak tourist seasons.
The lack of affordable housing is a critical issue, with many fearing that Traverse City is becoming financially inaccessible to working-class residents, young families, and retirees.
View common themes from this question below or by clicking here.
Strategic Planning and Policy Implications:
Invest in affordable housing by promoting mixed-income developments and regulating short-term rentals to keep homes available for full-time residents.
Implement traffic management solutions, such as improved public transit, expanded bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly downtown planning.
Balance tourism with resident needs by setting sustainable visitor limits and reinvesting tourism revenue into local infrastructure.
Protect local workers and businesses by incentivizing year-round employment opportunities instead of a seasonal economy.
