Accommodating D.C.'s Rapid Growth; Heat Map Shows Permits and Construction

Adding 1,100 people every month, Washington D.C. is in the midst of one of the nation’s most powerful examples of population growth. A recently developed heat map shows where supply is being built to meet the new demand.

1 minute read

January 15, 2014, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Pulling data from the District of Columbia Data Catalogue, blog Map Attacks has created a map showing every active building permit in the city, as of January 10, 2014. The visualization is useful in projecting the future of the nation's capital, which is drawing a large influx of new residents.

Dan Reed provides some local insight about the patterns visible on the map: “there's a lot of construction occurring in downtown DC, though there's also a significant amount of building taking place near U Street. H Street and Columbia Heights are no slouch, as well as Fort Totten, where a new Walmart is under construction.” Reed describes the orientation of construction permits by referencing some of the political dynamics at play in the development climate of the capital: “[the bulk of new construction occurring east of Rock Creek Park is] a good thing after decades of disinvestment, but it also illustrates how resistance to new development west of the park has pushed demand further east.”

One caveat about the heat map and its dataset from Map Attacks: “This dataset captures large construction projects like the O Street Market development in Shaw, as well as someone renovating their bathroom in Georgetown.”

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 in Greater Greater Washington

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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

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