How we did the study of vacant housing in Buffalo
The Buffalo News’ study of vacant housing in Buffalo was based on a computer-based analysis of property records from the state, county and city, as well as housing data compiled by the U. S. Census and the U. S. Postal Service.
The study included the creation of a database made up of city and county records that document about 5,800 pieces of commercial, residential and industrial land owned by the city last year.
It also is made up of 1,000 other properties — most of them targeted for demolition — that did not sell at Buffalo’s public auction last year, and another 1,400 pieces of property with tax liens that the state is expected to hand over to the city this coming year.
The database, which can be searched by street and property type, is available at www.buffalonews.com . The database reflects properties that were owned by the city or targeted for ownership by the city in late 2007. There may be some properties that have since been sold. The News’ analysis also relied on census data and “undeliverable addresses” data compiled by the Postal Service and studied by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The data is compiled by postal carriers as they go house-to-house and reflect the percentage of vacant housing units in each census tract.
Maps based on the Postal Service data were compiled by News Staff Reporter Patrick Lakamp.
— Phil Fairbanks
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