Category: Uncategorized

My map depicts data representing the smallest lot size for multifamily housing in square feet in the state of Connecticut. I took out other data from the multifamily zoning spreadsheet to make my map more clear and I deleted cells that contained no data about lot size. On my map, the towns without data do not have a color. For towns with data, I used the gradient method. I chose to do 5 gradients from 0 up 900,000 square feet; the darker the shade of blue, the greater the minimum lot size is. For example, Bloomfield’s smallest lot size for multifamily housing is 871,200 square feet and on the map this is represented by a very dark shade of blue. Hartford, on the other hand, is 6000 square feet and this is shown by using a much lighter shade of blue. Anyone viewing this map would get a clear idea of the smallest lot size for multifamily housing in CT towns. By showing data in a map format, it is easy to make comparisons between towns or regions by looking at areas that have lighter or darker shades of blue.

Maximum Density for Multifamily Housing (units/acres)

This map is representing the maximum density for multifamily housing in the Hartford area. The dark red represents the ares where there was no data provided. As for the other areas, the darker the shade of green, the higher the maximum density and the lighter the shade of green, the lower the maximum density. With the exception of New Haven, the darkest shaded areas are at the center of the map. The areas with the lower density are mostly in the north and the south, surrounding the areas with the higher numbers

The presented map is on the Maximum Density for Multifamily Housing, in units per acre, in municipalities in the greater Hartford area. This map demonstrates how many multifamily housing units can be built in the spans of about one acre. In some municipalities like East Hartford, large amounts of multifamily housing units can be built. In the case of East Hartford, 87.12 units can be built in one acre of land. The municipalities in the lightest shade of blue represent the smallest number of multifamily housing units that can be built in one acre, which is ranged from 0 to 25 units. The ranges from lowest number of units to largest are 0-25 units (shaded in the lightest blue), 25-50 units, 50-75 units, and 75-100 units (shaded in the darkest blue). The units shaded in red do not allow multifamily housing in their area.

The map above displays the smallest area in square footage on which a multifamily housing unit can be placed in each particular city in the metropolitan Hartford area. The darker the shade of the town, the smaller the square footage necessary for the lot to be occupied by multifamily housing. The lighter the shade the larger the lot necessary. Basically, shows which towns only allow multifamily housing on relatively large housing lots, and which towns allow multifamily housing on relatively small lots. This indicates which towns are more likely to be friendly to multi-family housing and which towns are likely to create obstacles for multifamily housing. By clicking on the individual cities, you can get the specific lot size requirements for each city, as well as other related stats.

Note: the cities shaded in red do not have multifamily housing lot size data.

In this map, I tried to represent Connecticut Statute 8-30g. Basically, this statute discusses Affordable housing, land use and appeals procedures. (CT Dept of Economic and Community Development, Affordable Housing Appeals, 2010 (http://www.ct.gov/ecd/cwp/view.asp?a=1105&q=251248) Affordable housing, under this definition, also includes people eligible for section 8. Section 8 authorizes the payment of rental housing assistance to privately owned residences. I believe in Connecticut tenants do not have to pay more than 1/3 of their gross income. Organizations like The Connecticut Fair Housing Center are dedicated to “ensuring that individual choice, and not discrimination, determines where people live in Connecticut…” and that people are not discriminated against for their housing. A common form of “housing discrimination” is Red-Lining. Red-lining describes the practice by which banks mark red line on a map to delineate the area they will not invest (including but not limited to housing.) Discrimination like this does not allow people who are financially struggling to receive affordable housing.

Below is my map: