Finding the Hot Blocks: Part 2

Continuing on our theme of improving neighborhoods in Dallas, we decided to look at the question from another angle: code violations.

What are code violations?

They are things reported to the city's "311" hotline system that affect the quality of neighborhood life. According to the Dallas Open Data website, "The most common are high weeds, litter, junk motor vehicles, and bulky trash."

Looking for improvements

We set out to look for improvements. A neighborhood where code violations are in decline are places that are showing improved levels of upkeep and pride of ownership. We compared the two year period of 2016-18 (the latest available), which had a whopping 266,000 violations across the city of Dallas, with the two-year period of 2014-16.

Several hot spots showed substantial reduction in the number of violations reported per square mile:

• Areas around Fair Park, especially just east of it
• Piedmont Addition, an area on the way to Pleasant Grove
• Winnetka Heights just past the Bishop Arts District
• Cockrell Hill along Illinois Ave.
• Wynnewood
• The area around the VA hospital

These are all areas that are worthy of a closer look for future investment potential. Taken together with other indicators we have explored, like renovation activity, building permits, and others, we can pinpoint with a good degree of confidence where things are headed.

Code violation categories:

Source: Fort Worth Code Compliance Division

About Spatial Laser:

We are building a map-driven system and app called Locate Alpha to help investors quickly screen investment locations to avoid making investment mistakes, using advanced mapping techniques. To sign up for updates, please visit our home page www.spatiallaser.com.