Chris Goldammer
@floorarearatio.bsky.social
Urban data, mostly NYC. I'm developing citytracker.ai -- but in practice, I like to answer any question about NYC, as long as it's in public data. Ask away!
New Construction filings (markers) and historic districts (yellow) in Brooklyn.
They clearly don't like each other!
They clearly don't like each other!
November 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New Construction filings (markers) and historic districts (yellow) in Brooklyn.
They clearly don't like each other!
They clearly don't like each other!
We don't see this huge in-migration from far away (even if, that wouldn't be bad, but that's another post).
The majority comes from within 5 miles!
And even *if* this were true for pencil towers (again, no data), such towers are outliers. To explain impact, we should study average new buildings.
The majority comes from within 5 miles!
And even *if* this were true for pencil towers (again, no data), such towers are outliers. To explain impact, we should study average new buildings.
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
We don't see this huge in-migration from far away (even if, that wouldn't be bad, but that's another post).
The majority comes from within 5 miles!
And even *if* this were true for pencil towers (again, no data), such towers are outliers. To explain impact, we should study average new buildings.
The majority comes from within 5 miles!
And even *if* this were true for pencil towers (again, no data), such towers are outliers. To explain impact, we should study average new buildings.
This recent NIMBY/YIMBY article (image below) is very different: It talks about filtering but provides purely hypothetical data. (www.currentaffairs.org/news/2021/01...)
*If* these effects were real, maybe they are a problem. But the data we have (see Honolulu study) just look very different!
*If* these effects were real, maybe they are a problem. But the data we have (see Honolulu study) just look very different!
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This recent NIMBY/YIMBY article (image below) is very different: It talks about filtering but provides purely hypothetical data. (www.currentaffairs.org/news/2021/01...)
*If* these effects were real, maybe they are a problem. But the data we have (see Honolulu study) just look very different!
*If* these effects were real, maybe they are a problem. But the data we have (see Honolulu study) just look very different!
On moving chains, and the Honolulu paper, "The Downmarket Impact ... " (links below)
Why is this relevant? It's a common belief that market-rate housing has *no* benefits for non-rich people.
These benefits are indirect, from moving chains, and the article provides evidence for these benefits.
Why is this relevant? It's a common belief that market-rate housing has *no* benefits for non-rich people.
These benefits are indirect, from moving chains, and the article provides evidence for these benefits.
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
On moving chains, and the Honolulu paper, "The Downmarket Impact ... " (links below)
Why is this relevant? It's a common belief that market-rate housing has *no* benefits for non-rich people.
These benefits are indirect, from moving chains, and the article provides evidence for these benefits.
Why is this relevant? It's a common belief that market-rate housing has *no* benefits for non-rich people.
These benefits are indirect, from moving chains, and the article provides evidence for these benefits.
Where are we adding or removing units through alterations?
First image: From 2-3 units to 1 unit. Congratulations to the Upper East Side, Park Slope, and Homecrest.
Second Image: 1-Unit to 2-3 units. The outer boroughs are adding units!
First image: From 2-3 units to 1 unit. Congratulations to the Upper East Side, Park Slope, and Homecrest.
Second Image: 1-Unit to 2-3 units. The outer boroughs are adding units!
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Where are we adding or removing units through alterations?
First image: From 2-3 units to 1 unit. Congratulations to the Upper East Side, Park Slope, and Homecrest.
Second Image: 1-Unit to 2-3 units. The outer boroughs are adding units!
First image: From 2-3 units to 1 unit. Congratulations to the Upper East Side, Park Slope, and Homecrest.
Second Image: 1-Unit to 2-3 units. The outer boroughs are adding units!
Satellite is prettier!
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Satellite is prettier!
Want to understand *where* NYC permits are happening?
- Solar panels: Outer boroughs
- Sheds and scaffolding: Dense neighborhoods
- Plumbing: Manhattan
Filter by anything, and every filter becomes a map.
Coming soon:
citytracker.ai
- Solar panels: Outer boroughs
- Sheds and scaffolding: Dense neighborhoods
- Plumbing: Manhattan
Filter by anything, and every filter becomes a map.
Coming soon:
citytracker.ai
November 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Want to understand *where* NYC permits are happening?
- Solar panels: Outer boroughs
- Sheds and scaffolding: Dense neighborhoods
- Plumbing: Manhattan
Filter by anything, and every filter becomes a map.
Coming soon:
citytracker.ai
- Solar panels: Outer boroughs
- Sheds and scaffolding: Dense neighborhoods
- Plumbing: Manhattan
Filter by anything, and every filter becomes a map.
Coming soon:
citytracker.ai
A recommendation for the MTA to increase support for the Inter-Borough-Express.
Many people doubt that this corridor will have lots of demand.
Commonly cited is this number: "115,000 daily riders".
But ... you're not helping us understand *how* you got to this estimate.
Many people doubt that this corridor will have lots of demand.
Commonly cited is this number: "115,000 daily riders".
But ... you're not helping us understand *how* you got to this estimate.
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A recommendation for the MTA to increase support for the Inter-Borough-Express.
Many people doubt that this corridor will have lots of demand.
Commonly cited is this number: "115,000 daily riders".
But ... you're not helping us understand *how* you got to this estimate.
Many people doubt that this corridor will have lots of demand.
Commonly cited is this number: "115,000 daily riders".
But ... you're not helping us understand *how* you got to this estimate.
The estimated fiscal cost for the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act bill (902) that mandates a 6-month option to buy for qualifying organizations.
This just feels like it's not even trying:
1. A delay mechanically reduces transfer taxes
2. Sales prices (=> prop taxes) should go down
This just feels like it's not even trying:
1. A delay mechanically reduces transfer taxes
2. Sales prices (=> prop taxes) should go down
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The estimated fiscal cost for the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act bill (902) that mandates a 6-month option to buy for qualifying organizations.
This just feels like it's not even trying:
1. A delay mechanically reduces transfer taxes
2. Sales prices (=> prop taxes) should go down
This just feels like it's not even trying:
1. A delay mechanically reduces transfer taxes
2. Sales prices (=> prop taxes) should go down
We're ready to track NYC:
Sales, filings, permits.
Work types galore.
Everything's linked and tagged.
Log in to save your searches.
Vast majority of features are free.
citytracker.ai
Track away, and give me feedback!
Sales, filings, permits.
Work types galore.
Everything's linked and tagged.
Log in to save your searches.
Vast majority of features are free.
citytracker.ai
Track away, and give me feedback!
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
We're ready to track NYC:
Sales, filings, permits.
Work types galore.
Everything's linked and tagged.
Log in to save your searches.
Vast majority of features are free.
citytracker.ai
Track away, and give me feedback!
Sales, filings, permits.
Work types galore.
Everything's linked and tagged.
Log in to save your searches.
Vast majority of features are free.
citytracker.ai
Track away, and give me feedback!
NYC has beautiful and efficient housing due to its zoning setbacks:
1. Front: To put your garbage bins
2. Height: To make the streetscape pretty
3. Side: To give you space to breathe
1. Front: To put your garbage bins
2. Height: To make the streetscape pretty
3. Side: To give you space to breathe
November 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
NYC has beautiful and efficient housing due to its zoning setbacks:
1. Front: To put your garbage bins
2. Height: To make the streetscape pretty
3. Side: To give you space to breathe
1. Front: To put your garbage bins
2. Height: To make the streetscape pretty
3. Side: To give you space to breathe
Is there potential to combine the Inter-Borough-Express with upzoning?
Showing block-level averages.
First: Number of floors is mostly below 4, often below 1.
Second: The zoned floor-area-ratio is mostly below 4, often below 1.
(you might notice that these maps are similar)
Showing block-level averages.
First: Number of floors is mostly below 4, often below 1.
Second: The zoned floor-area-ratio is mostly below 4, often below 1.
(you might notice that these maps are similar)
November 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Is there potential to combine the Inter-Borough-Express with upzoning?
Showing block-level averages.
First: Number of floors is mostly below 4, often below 1.
Second: The zoned floor-area-ratio is mostly below 4, often below 1.
(you might notice that these maps are similar)
Showing block-level averages.
First: Number of floors is mostly below 4, often below 1.
Second: The zoned floor-area-ratio is mostly below 4, often below 1.
(you might notice that these maps are similar)
Let's do a quick upzoning analysis of the Inter-Borough-Express.
Within 0.5 miles of the IBX, we have 225,000 units, with average Floor-Area-Ratio of 1.6
If we doubled FAR and assumed that about 50% of the total FAR gets used over 10 years, we'd add:
200,000 units of housing!
🧵
Within 0.5 miles of the IBX, we have 225,000 units, with average Floor-Area-Ratio of 1.6
If we doubled FAR and assumed that about 50% of the total FAR gets used over 10 years, we'd add:
200,000 units of housing!
🧵
November 18, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Let's do a quick upzoning analysis of the Inter-Borough-Express.
Within 0.5 miles of the IBX, we have 225,000 units, with average Floor-Area-Ratio of 1.6
If we doubled FAR and assumed that about 50% of the total FAR gets used over 10 years, we'd add:
200,000 units of housing!
🧵
Within 0.5 miles of the IBX, we have 225,000 units, with average Floor-Area-Ratio of 1.6
If we doubled FAR and assumed that about 50% of the total FAR gets used over 10 years, we'd add:
200,000 units of housing!
🧵
In public projects we often make decisions based on some number, but that number is almost impossible to validate.
An example: IBX in NYC is estimated to have daily ridership of 115,000.
What assumptions go into this? I went through a 1,077 page report and still don't know.
An example: IBX in NYC is estimated to have daily ridership of 115,000.
What assumptions go into this? I went through a 1,077 page report and still don't know.
November 15, 2025 at 10:51 PM
In public projects we often make decisions based on some number, but that number is almost impossible to validate.
An example: IBX in NYC is estimated to have daily ridership of 115,000.
What assumptions go into this? I went through a 1,077 page report and still don't know.
An example: IBX in NYC is estimated to have daily ridership of 115,000.
What assumptions go into this? I went through a 1,077 page report and still don't know.
Lots of discussion of the Inter-Borough-Express (IBX) in NYC.
But I couldn't find a way to analyze the route on a map.
So I created a dataset of the route and stops. Feedback welcome!
Unofficial and using some hand coding, so give me feedback!
github.com/cgoldammer/i...
But I couldn't find a way to analyze the route on a map.
So I created a dataset of the route and stops. Feedback welcome!
Unofficial and using some hand coding, so give me feedback!
github.com/cgoldammer/i...
November 13, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Lots of discussion of the Inter-Borough-Express (IBX) in NYC.
But I couldn't find a way to analyze the route on a map.
So I created a dataset of the route and stops. Feedback welcome!
Unofficial and using some hand coding, so give me feedback!
github.com/cgoldammer/i...
But I couldn't find a way to analyze the route on a map.
So I created a dataset of the route and stops. Feedback welcome!
Unofficial and using some hand coding, so give me feedback!
github.com/cgoldammer/i...
Many people believe that a major driver for the NYC affordability crisis are townhouse conversions that decrease units.
This exists, but:
1. Alterations + dominate -
2. Alterations (+ and - together) are dominated by new construction (>20K/year).
Own chart, Housing DB
This exists, but:
1. Alterations + dominate -
2. Alterations (+ and - together) are dominated by new construction (>20K/year).
Own chart, Housing DB
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Many people believe that a major driver for the NYC affordability crisis are townhouse conversions that decrease units.
This exists, but:
1. Alterations + dominate -
2. Alterations (+ and - together) are dominated by new construction (>20K/year).
Own chart, Housing DB
This exists, but:
1. Alterations + dominate -
2. Alterations (+ and - together) are dominated by new construction (>20K/year).
Own chart, Housing DB
How much of your NYC neighborhood has been rezoned?
- ULURP actions since 1996
- % of units by neighborhood
- Warning: Many of these rezonings might be minor.
- This doesn't include changes through the zoning code (e.g. the contextual downzoning)
- ULURP actions since 1996
- % of units by neighborhood
- Warning: Many of these rezonings might be minor.
- This doesn't include changes through the zoning code (e.g. the contextual downzoning)
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
How much of your NYC neighborhood has been rezoned?
- ULURP actions since 1996
- % of units by neighborhood
- Warning: Many of these rezonings might be minor.
- This doesn't include changes through the zoning code (e.g. the contextual downzoning)
- ULURP actions since 1996
- % of units by neighborhood
- Warning: Many of these rezonings might be minor.
- This doesn't include changes through the zoning code (e.g. the contextual downzoning)
This one is actually a recommendation from a Building Code (Sydney, Australia).
November 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
This one is actually a recommendation from a Building Code (Sydney, Australia).
We've got live feeds for NYC!
Permits, sales, much more coming soon. Notifications coming soon! Beta, so give me feedback if stuff is going wrong. Will improve quickly!
citytracker.ai
Permits, sales, much more coming soon. Notifications coming soon! Beta, so give me feedback if stuff is going wrong. Will improve quickly!
citytracker.ai
November 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We've got live feeds for NYC!
Permits, sales, much more coming soon. Notifications coming soon! Beta, so give me feedback if stuff is going wrong. Will improve quickly!
citytracker.ai
Permits, sales, much more coming soon. Notifications coming soon! Beta, so give me feedback if stuff is going wrong. Will improve quickly!
citytracker.ai
Your arguments are all very sensible. I’d just add that it’s good to keep in mind that NYC is pretty suburban zoned. The median FAR is 1.0 (Brooklyn as example). Relaxing this can increase housing dramatically and improvise affordability.
It’s the most obvious lever and I’ll keep pushing for it.
It’s the most obvious lever and I’ll keep pushing for it.
November 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Your arguments are all very sensible. I’d just add that it’s good to keep in mind that NYC is pretty suburban zoned. The median FAR is 1.0 (Brooklyn as example). Relaxing this can increase housing dramatically and improvise affordability.
It’s the most obvious lever and I’ll keep pushing for it.
It’s the most obvious lever and I’ll keep pushing for it.
This is about a lot with a linen supplier that "offers reliable restaurant linen and uniform rental services". The layout is unusual because the townhouses in the middle are not owned by Arrow Linen and thus excluded.
So what's in the assessment?
So what's in the assessment?
November 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This is about a lot with a linen supplier that "offers reliable restaurant linen and uniform rental services". The layout is unusual because the townhouses in the middle are not owned by Arrow Linen and thus excluded.
So what's in the assessment?
So what's in the assessment?
The City council's recent mailers talk about the "730 days" for City and Environmental Reviews.
So let's look at the environmental assessment for a recent "controversial" rezoning, Arrow Linen. 244 units in Brooklyn.
7 versions over 3 years, latest at 289 pages. Contents in image.
A 🧵
So let's look at the environmental assessment for a recent "controversial" rezoning, Arrow Linen. 244 units in Brooklyn.
7 versions over 3 years, latest at 289 pages. Contents in image.
A 🧵
November 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The City council's recent mailers talk about the "730 days" for City and Environmental Reviews.
So let's look at the environmental assessment for a recent "controversial" rezoning, Arrow Linen. 244 units in Brooklyn.
7 versions over 3 years, latest at 289 pages. Contents in image.
A 🧵
So let's look at the environmental assessment for a recent "controversial" rezoning, Arrow Linen. 244 units in Brooklyn.
7 versions over 3 years, latest at 289 pages. Contents in image.
A 🧵
I'd love to see the source for this calculation.
Is the 730 days the ULURP process (filing => approval)? I'm getting very different answers.
(Not commenting on the politics of it for now)
Is the 730 days the ULURP process (filing => approval)? I'm getting very different answers.
(Not commenting on the politics of it for now)
November 2, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I'd love to see the source for this calculation.
Is the 730 days the ULURP process (filing => approval)? I'm getting very different answers.
(Not commenting on the politics of it for now)
Is the 730 days the ULURP process (filing => approval)? I'm getting very different answers.
(Not commenting on the politics of it for now)
There's nothing scarier than bad land usage.
November 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
There's nothing scarier than bad land usage.
Some more examples:
Buildings in NYC with 1-2 floors in locations with price per square foot above $1,500.
Feast your eyes on this land use!
Buildings in NYC with 1-2 floors in locations with price per square foot above $1,500.
Feast your eyes on this land use!
November 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Some more examples:
Buildings in NYC with 1-2 floors in locations with price per square foot above $1,500.
Feast your eyes on this land use!
Buildings in NYC with 1-2 floors in locations with price per square foot above $1,500.
Feast your eyes on this land use!