Commercial Share

Areas with a high Commercial Address Share tend to have more businesses, offices, and industrial sites than homes and apartments. These commercial-heavy neighborhoods have different infrastructure needs, such as transportation access for customers and employees, as well as different zoning and land use regulations. Historically, some communities in LA County have seen environmental burdens like polluting factories sited in their neighborhoods because of less restrictive zoning. Knowing the Address Type can help policymakers and advocates identify commercial-heavy areas and work to balance community needs. For example, initiatives could aim to limit the over-concentration of commercial uses while also encouraging equitable economic development.

Residential Share

The Residential Address Share variable specifically provides insight into the housing makeup of a neighborhood. A high Residential Address Share indicates an area with predominantly residential addresses such as single-family homes, apartments, and condos. For policymakers, a high residential concentration highlights neighborhoods in need of resources like parks, schools, housing code enforcement, and services for families and children. It also indicates areas with a significant housing stock that play a key role in regional housing availability and affordability. Understanding where residential addresses are concentrated helps policymakers assess housing needs, target services and amenities, and evaluate the impacts of new housing policies across LA County’s diverse communities. For residents, this data empowers community groups to advocate for neighborhood improvements in highly residential areas and collaborate to shape an equitable vision for their community’s future. Overall, the Address Type sheds light on the diverse patchwork of neighborhoods across LA County. With these data insights, local leaders and community members can tailor policies, services, and resources to fit the unique residential and commercial contexts of their communities. 

“No One Home” Properties
Under an agreement between United States Postal Service (USPS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), USPS shares quarterly data on addresses identified as not collecting their mail for 6 months or or longer. Hyper-vacancy is described as neighborhoods in which 20 percent or more of the buildings and lots are vacant. Vacant properties are often concentrated in areas that are experiencing losses in jobs, investment and economic opportunities. Further, vacant or abandoned properties are costly to cities as a result of decreased tax revenue and increased crime and maintenance costs. Vacant properties also contribute to general blight which has a negative effect on property values. A Philadelphia study found that vacant properties reduced household wealth due to blight by an aggregate $3.6 billion. Vacancy is useful for researchers and practitioners exploring population growth, development patterns, rent evictions or gentrification trends.

Written by Debarun Sarbabidya