Information about the Dataset

The Permits Dataset has information for 21,556 permits from 2012 - 2016. For each permit the Dataset inclueds variables like:

  • Type of Permit
  • Applicant name (can be either a person or a company)
  • Location
  • SBL
  • Date Issued
  • Valuation (cost of the activity the applicant is requesting permit for)
  • Fee Amount (the monies for the City)

We used the types of permits to construct 4 categories that we will aggregate as variables at the Census Tract level.

There are 32 types of permits, and we have placed this types of Permits into 4 categories to analyze them separately. They are:

  • Residential Properties
  • Commercial Properties
  • Demolitions
  • Installations and Repairs (to public space, res and com)

In what follows we explain the categories that we have constructed and show some descriptives.

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

1. All Categories Permit Categories

Main takeaways:

  • This dataset we have a total of 16829 observations (or permits), with a median project valuation of $3,400.
  • During the last five years, the average number of permits given per year is approx. 3,360. This number has been very stable in recent years, with a small fall during 2016.
  • Most investment projects (60.2%) have a value below $5,000, while 17.5% have a value of $20,000+.
  • Investment projects are fairly distributed across the city. Installation and Repairs are the most prevalent form of investments, followed by residential property investment project.
  • The census tracts around Downtown, Lakefront, University Hill, Strathmore, Highway 81 and Highway 690 have received most investments projects, measured in aggregate value.
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
All Permits 16829 0 3400 53343.71 31811000

2. Residential Property Investments

Main takeaways:

  • This category contains permits for new 1-2 family residential projects as well as remodeling and change in occupancy projects.
  • There have been 2257 residential investment projects in the City of Syracuse over the last five years. Most of them are remodeling and change in occupancy projects (98%).
  • The years 2014 and 2015 showed an important increase in the number of residential projects in, with a total of 565 and 598 projects, respectively. This figure dropped to 404 in 2016.
  • Most residential investment projects (63.5%) have a value of $5,000 or below, while only 6.1% have a value of $20,000+.
  • The census tracts around the South Valley, Far-West side, Westside, Near Northeast, Eastwood, Near Eastside, Westcott, University Neighborhood, Lincoln, Salt Springs, Sedgwick and Meadowbrook neighborhoods have received most residential investments projects, measured in aggregate value.
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
Res. New 1-2 Family 41 0 124000 122078.2 255539
Res. Remodel/Chg Occ 2216 0 3000 6955.0 360000
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
All Residential Property 2257 0 3000 9046.295 360000

###3. New/Reno of Commercial Property

Main takeaways:

  • This category contains permits for the construction of new commercial buildings as well as the renovation, remodeling or change in occupancy projects.
  • There have been 1716 commercial investment projects over the last five years. Most of them have been renovation, remodeling or change in occupancy projects (96.7%).
  • The number of commercial projects has been fairly consistent over the last five years, with an annual average of 342 permits per year.
  • Most commercial investment projects (59.7%) had a value of $20,000+ and only 19.3% of projects had a value of $5,000 or below.
  • Census tracts around Downtown, Lakefront, University Hill, Near Eastside, Highway 81 and Highway 690 have received most commercial investments projects, measured in aggregate value.
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
Com. New Building 56 1500 875000 2440788.8 15183229
Com. Reno/Rem/Chg Occ 1660 0 30000 247949.1 31811000
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
All Commercial Property 1716 0 34000 319510.3 31811000

4. Demolitions

Main takeaways:

  • This category contains 595 observations for demolition permits in the City of Syracuse.
  • Over the last five years, the demolition permits annual average has been 119. This number has been fairly consistent, with a small increase (164 permits) in 2015.
  • The value of the demolition projects ranges from zero dollars to $300,000, with most projects (24.2%) falling between $10,000 and $20,000.
  • Census tracts around Downtown, Lakefront, Westside, Near Westside, Near Eastside, Southwest, and Brighton have seen the largest number of demolition projects, measured in aggregate value.
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
Demolitions 595 0 11500 17511.1 3e+05

5. Installations and Repairs on all properties

Main takeaways:

  • This category is composed several kinds of permits, including: Electric, Elevator, Fire Alarm, HVAC/Mechanical, Misc.(deck, fence,ramp), Pool / Hot Tub, Security Alarm, Sprinkler, and Tank.
  • There have been a total of 12,261 installations and repairs projects over the last five years. Most of them have been Electric (46.6%), HVAC/Mechanical (17.6%) and Sprinkler (14.5%) projects.
  • The number of installations and repairs projects has been somewhat consistent over the last five years, with an annual average of 2,449 permits per year. However, last year, there was a small decrease in the number of installations and repairs permits with only 2,013.
  • Most installations and repairs projects (67%) had a value of $5,000 or below and only and only 13.7% of projects had a value of $20,000+.
  • The census tracts around Downtown, Lakefront, Westside, Near Eastside, Near Northeast, and Highway 81 have received most commercial investments projects, measured in aggregate value.
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
Electric 5712 0 2000 23317.348 8000000
Elevator 170 0 30650 73307.918 1172000
Fire Alarm 607 0 8960 52336.148 8000000
HVAC/Mechanical 2156 0 5650 52791.131 9764733
Misc.(deck, fence,ramp) 1159 0 2000 5166.703 2100000
Pool / Hot Tub 71 0 4000 6721.448 30000
Security Alarm 542 0 200 1215.267 91968
Sprinkler 1778 0 1650 10725.370 1396500
Tank 66 0 5000 17794.197 300000
Type Observations Min. Median Mean Max.
All Installations and Repairs 12261 0 2600 25985.24 9764733