Automatic Local Information

This article from Next American City looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the website EveryBlock.com, an automated, geography-based information aggregator.

2 minute read

January 4, 2009, 11:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"At first blush, the concept behind EveryBlock makes sense: With the amount of media already out there, how better to capture it than with an automated program? Certainly, the data on the Web site provides users anywhere in the world a snapshot of a neighborhood's civic and, to some extent, cultural goings on. And there is much to be said for capturing, organizing and centralizing information as opposed to adding to it. But the absence of an editorial hand is also the site's weakness; results don't do much to enlighten visitors about a neighborhood's character. For instance, a recent search of a Harlem address (my own) brought up real estate listings, the results of restaurant inspections, and articles from the New York Times, the Daily News and the Observer that mentioned Harlem or nearby Central Park. There were also crime listings from surrounding precincts, a restaurant review and a couple of hazy photos (via Flickr) of the interior of an apartment. But because nothing has been published in the past week that gets to the real flavor of the neighborhood, a stranger would have no idea that, say, central Harlem is contending with gentrification and the social issues that come with it. The Web site, then, is kind of like those flowers for sale at the corner deli - beautiful, perhaps, but when you put your nose to petals, there isn't any smell. Put another way: One would like to think one's neighborhood is greater than the sum of its parts - a concept that's essential to the greatness of any city. On EveryBlock, there are parts, but no whole."

Thursday, January 1, 2009 in Next American City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

1 hour ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

3 hours ago - Cities Today

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA