Python analysis
Exploring Housing Trends in NYC using the DCP Housing Database
As cities contend with housing shortages and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding trends in housing production is important for addressing urban resilience and equity. By consolidating NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)-approved housing jobs since 2010—including new buildings, major alterations, and demolitions—the NYC Department of City Planning’s (DCP) Housing Database allows for an analysis of how legal housing units have evolved over time and across the city.
In 2023, the number of new building permits issued (16,359 units) marked a significant decline from 2022, a year that reached historic highs as developers raced to qualify for the 421-a tax benefit before its expiration on June 15, 2022. This decline resulted in 2023 having the lowest number of permitted units since 2016, the last time the 421-a tax benefit lapsed. Brooklyn continued to lead in the share of permitted units for new buildings, accounting for 32% of the total. Trailing Brooklyn were the Bronx (29%), Queens (23%), Manhattan (12%), and Staten Island (3%). At the close of 2023, 105,431 homes had active permits, 65% of which were in Brooklyn or Queens.
This project is a preliminary quantitative analysis of housing production trends in NYC. The analysis reveals disparities in project sizes, spatial distribution, and the effects of ownership-driven development. Key findings include the dominance of large-scale developments in Brooklyn and Queens, contrasting with smaller projects in the Bronx and Staten Island. Additionally, while typically 80–90% of permitted jobs are completed within four years, constraints in construction sector capacity and high interest rates may hinder the completion of recently permitted projects.
Columbia GSAPP I Fall 2024 I Instructor: Anthony Vanky I Tools: Python I Collaborators: Jessica Gonzales, Pablo Useche