Building permit data provides a barometer of the development market, which is a reflection of development processes and planning regimes. The arc of the country's housing construction trends bends toward Texas.
The U.S. Census Bureau took to Twitter yesterday to share data on residential building permits in 2016, calling attention to the state of Texas' position as the leader in private home development. Specifically, Texas permitted 165,583 residential units—106,511 of which were single units.
#Texas led the way in residential building permits in 2016 w/ 165,853 new privately owned housing units authorized: https://t.co/EaBiRiRxx3 pic.twitter.com/FJEBezUyCK
— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) June 6, 2017
The data released also contains a few helpful nuggets to put the construction in Texas in perspective: the entire country permitted 1,206,642 unites in 2016. Behind Texas were Florida, with 116,240 total units, and California, with 102,350 total units. New York permitted a surprisingly low figure of 33,711 total units.
The U.S. Census Bureau followed the permits data tweet with more data that offer other perspective's on the residential development market.
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of new private residential #construction for Feb 2017 was estimated to be $497b https://t.co/wvWS4lxYtm pic.twitter.com/eGZdBzvYyi
— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) June 6, 2017
Read the full story: New Privately Owned Housing Units Authorized Unadjusted Units for Regions, Divisions, and States
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority