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Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions
Across the country, many urban neighborhoods are experiencing dramatic transformations. Parking lots, underused commercial properties, and former industrial sites are being replaced by condos, apartments, and townhouses. In spite of the many impressive projects, a central question remains: Do such examples add up to a fundamental shift in the geography of residential construction?
To answer this question, EPA examined residential building permits in the 50 largest metropolitan regions in 2009. The original report, issued in Feb. 2009, examined building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. The results of this analysis can be found in the report Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions 2009.
In 2010, EPA expanded the data set to include 2008 data. The results of this analysis can be found in the report Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions 2010.
The main goal of the analysis was to clarify: 1) if there has been a shift toward redevelopment; and 2) in which regions the shift has been most significant.
The trends in both reports indicate that the distribution of residential construction has significantly changed over time in many regions. In more than half of the largest metropolitan areas, urban neighborhoods had dramatically increased their share of new residential building permits.
- The urban neighborhoods had more than doubled its share in 15 regions.
- The increase had been particularly dramatic over the past 5 years.
- Data from 2008 showed the trend continuing in the wake of the real estate market downturn.
However, in many regions, a large share of new residential construction was still taking place on previously undeveloped land on the urban fringe.
The 2010 report showed the following average share of new residential construction in urban neighborhoods:
- Redevelopment in urban neighborhoods added up to more than half of new residential construction in only one region: New York.
- In 8 regions, redevelopment in urban neighborhoods accounted for between ¼ and ½ of new construction: Chicago; Dallas; Los Angeles; Miami; Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; and San Francisco.
- In 18 regions, redevelopment in urban neighborhoods significantly increased but accounted for less than ¼ of new residential units.
- In 6 regions, there was very little change in the distribution.
For questions about this study, please contact John Thomas (202-566-1285, thomas.john@epa.gov).
Read the report: Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions 2009 (PDF) (33 pp, 664K, About PDF)
Read the report: Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions 2010 (PDF) (32 pp, 654K, About PDF)