The HUD/USPS dataset may also be of use. The program is on hold but data is available up to Sept. 2010. http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/usps.html I think it goes down to the tract level, and looks at vacancy in terms of whether or not they have been collecting their mail. Mara _____ From: Patty Becker [mailto:pbecker(a)umich.edu] Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:00 PM To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: Re: [CTPP] Census Vacant Structure Determination The problem is that vacancy status is determined, in the end game, by the enumerator who goes out there and looks at the building/unit. Some units that are really occupied will be declared vacant because the occupants, who may be squatters or illegal immigrants, are hiding from the census. Sometimes there's a fine line between a vacant unit and one which should be taken out of the stock as unlivable. I have the general impression that in 2010 the tendency here was toward vacant, whereas in 2000 and 1990 the tendency was toward removing it from the stock. I doubt that there's any way to prove this one way or the other. Adam - does your ordinance also cover vacant apartments in multi-unit buildings? Bottom line - the census is not clearly definitive on this point. Its mission is to count people, not vacant units. Patty Becker At 09:41 AM 4/26/2011, you wrote: Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01CC0417.95B2731C" Hello everyone. I am in need of information regarding how the Census Bureau determines the status of vacant structures. Our city has a vacant structure ordinance in place. This ordinance dictates that property owners register their buildings with the city planning department. How does the Census determine which structures are vacant? Thanks for the help. Adam Aull MPO Director/GIS Manager Danville Area Transportation Study 17 West Main Street, Danville, IL 61832 T: 217 - 431 - 2325 F: 217 - 431 - 2237 E: aaull(a)cityofdanville.org _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Patricia C. (Patty) Becker 248/354-6520 APB Associates/SEMCC FAX 248/354-6645 28300 Franklin Road Home 248/355-2428 Southfield, MI 48034 pbecker(a)umich.edu

Our ordinance covers residential and non-residential structures. The ordinance is a method to try to rehab or demo the structures. It does not count units in building that is otherwise occupied. Adam Aull MPO Director/GIS Manager Danville Area Transportation Study 17 West Main Street, Danville, IL 61832 T: 217 - 431 - 2325 F: 217 - 431 - 2237 E: aaull(a)cityofdanville.org <mailto:aaull(a)cityofdanville.org> ________________________________ From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Patty Becker Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 11:00 AM To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: Re: [CTPP] Census Vacant Structure Determination The problem is that vacancy status is determined, in the end game, by the enumerator who goes out there and looks at the building/unit. Some units that are really occupied will be declared vacant because the occupants, who may be squatters or illegal immigrants, are hiding from the census. Sometimes there's a fine line between a vacant unit and one which should be taken out of the stock as unlivable. I have the general impression that in 2010 the tendency here was toward vacant, whereas in 2000 and 1990 the tendency was toward removing it from the stock. I doubt that there's any way to prove this one way or the other. Adam - does your ordinance also cover vacant apartments in multi-unit buildings? Bottom line - the census is not clearly definitive on this point. Its mission is to count people, not vacant units. Patty Becker At 09:41 AM 4/26/2011, you wrote: Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01CC0417.95B2731C" Hello everyone. I am in need of information regarding how the Census Bureau determines the status of vacant structures. Our city has a vacant structure ordinance in place. This ordinance dictates that property owners register their buildings with the city planning department. How does the Census determine which structures are vacant? Thanks for the help. Adam Aull MPO Director/GIS Manager Danville Area Transportation Study 17 West Main Street, Danville, IL 61832 T: 217 - 431 - 2325 F: 217 - 431 - 2237 E: aaull(a)cityofdanville.org _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------- Patricia C. (Patty) Becker 248/354-6520 APB Associates/SEMCC FAX 248/354-6645 28300 Franklin Road Home 248/355-2428 Southfield, MI 48034 pbecker(a)umich.edu

One very tricky aspect of the Census definition of dwelling unit shows up with respect to units that are under construction.  The Census first considers a unit under construction  to be a vacant and unoccupied dwelling when it reaches the stage known in the building world as "framed to lock-up."  That is, a dwelling that has its exterior sheathing and roof sheathing installed, and windows and doors in place so that it can be locked up and secured.  It does not yet have insulation, wiring, sheetrock, plumbing fixtures, etc. installed, and would not yet be considered a habitable dwelling by any local government.  R ather, we would s till consider it  be  a "construction site, " not yet approved for occupancy.  This can play havoc with your baseline figure for number of dwellings in the decennial Census year, especially in those newly-developing neighborhoods (i.e., tracts or block groups)  that have significant projects under construction (e.g., an apartment building with 100 units).  You may have to spend a lot of effort adjusting the Census data to correspond with building records for permits taken out versus  final inspections/occupancy permits, in order to get a true picture . - Pete Swensson (now retired, but not expired, formerly of Thurston Regional Planning Council, Olympia, WA) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert. Allen" <Robert.Allen(a)abilenetx.com> To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:14:32 PM Subject: RE: [CTPP] Census Vacant Structure Determination My experience over three censuses reflects Patty’s experience.  I, too, have the impression from a partial review of the redistricting data that more apparently uninhabitable units are being left on, but that is better than the last census in which we had a least one case in which a clearly occupied unit was listed as nonresidential.  Hastily trained temporary Census workers have  authority to make the decisions for Census purposes and all the documentation that a local professional may have on hand will not alter the record in my experience.  I have even  had an entire section of an important, and quite visible, boundary creek removed from Census maps by Census field workers for two censuses running.  Such things give me no confidence in the precision of their records but the census is still the most official data and as good as any other source as far as I can tell.   Robert R. Allen, AICP Abilene MPO 400 Oak St., #102 Abilene, TX, 79602 Ph. (325) 676-6243       On Behalf Of Patty Becker Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 11:00 AM   The problem is that vacancy status is determined, in the end game, by the enumerator who goes out there and looks at the building/unit. Some units that are really occupied will be declared vacant because the occupants, who may be squatters or illegal immigrants, are hiding from the census. Sometimes there's a fine line between a vacant unit and one which should be taken out of the stock as unlivable. I have the general impression that in 2010 the tendency here was toward vacant, whereas in 2000 and 1990 the tendency was toward removing it from the stock. I doubt that there's any way to prove this one way or the other.  Adam - does your ordinance also cover vacant apartments in multi-unit buildings? Bottom line - the census is not clearly definitive on this point. Its mission is to count people, not vacant units. Patty Becker   _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news