The Long Island Index new feature: an interactive map of Long Island

[Billy Ringo]

Fantastic, Walter - even though I realize this thread is a few years old. Was wondering if anyone has any old photos - say from the 50's or 60's - of Bayville.

Thanks

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Billy Ringo

Was wondering if anyone has any old photos - say from the 50's or 60's - of Bayville.

The Bayville Free Library should, I'm guessing.

Bayville Free Library
34 School Street
Bayville, NY 11709

Tel: 516/628-2765
Fax: 516/628-2738

eMail: bfl@nassaulibrary.info

[2011littlehouse]

I stumbled upon "longislandindex" independently and then checked if it has been mentioned here and found this thread.

Long Island Index: Long Island Index

Does anyone know anything about the Rauch Foundation (rauchfoundation.org) that is behind "longislandindex"?

I also think that this site/thread should be a sticky due to the absolutely impressive amount of information gathered there and the attempt to update whenever possible: school districts - borders, density, taxes paid per child, how are your taxes calculated, potential for downtown revival, population density, demographics, income, CO2 emissions per capita, house affordability over the years... and much more - most in interactive maps.

Long Island Index: Interactive Map

---
I only spent about 30min browsing - there is too much in there...

But here is a snippet of what caught my eye, and that is indirectly in response to Crooks' thread "Has LI hit the bottom of the housing market".

The site uses "affordability index" = % of houses sold for < 2.5x median income on LI.

Here are the numbers (this affordability index) for immediate areas where I am looking, but one can map the whole island:

affordability in 1997 vs. 2009
(the threshold, i.e. 2.5x median income was $171k in 1997, $254k in 2009):

Stony Brook: 43.1% vs. 3.9% (1997 vs 2009)
Setauket/E. Setauket: 36.3% vs. 3.5% (1997 vs 2009)

Those numbers apply to many other areas on LI. Of course, there are also the eternal exclusive spots (Old Field 0% vs. 0%)...

Since 2009, median income has basically remained unchanged.
I don't see many houses going around for $254k today...

Call me chicken little / little house .. whatever , but one of the following things must happen for the housing market on LI to get more action and for house prices to stabilize and start increasing:

1) salaries must go up, a lot
2) "poor" people (households making < $150k or so) must leave the island and get replaced by an influx of eligible buyers
or...
3) ?

EDIT: Yeah, forgot one more thing - the insane increase in taxes is not even part of the equation here. "Affordability" is very much hurt by that too.

[ClarkStreetKid]

I'll play!
Problem, it's doubtful salaries will go up much if at all. Also with a lousy job market off the Island will make it tougher for the "poor" to find work elsewhere. Also what would make eligible buyers pick the Island over less expensive areas? Besides bagels, pizza and beach.

[2011littlehouse]

Originally Posted by ClarkStreetKid

I'll play!
Problem, it's doubtful salaries will go up much if at all. Also with a lousy job market off the Island will make it tougher for the "poor" to find work elsewhere. Also what would make eligible buyers pick the Island over less expensive areas? Besides bagels, pizza and beach.

Other than the obvious ... let the housing market correct itself, i.e. bring some affordability for the current population on LI by matching house prices to income ... I ponder if some re-shuffling on the island itself will be possible. Something along the lines of Harlem's revival - solid middle class people, priced out of what once have been affordable areas, moving to pockets of affordability and turning them around (think Shirley, Patchogue etc).
It takes pioneering spirit, a vision, bravery and lots of luck to settle in one of those areas but maybe an option (not a popular one).

Lack of economic growth and ultra-high taxes are a big hurdle in turning things around for the housing market on LI.

[gag]

Originally Posted by 2011littlehouse

I stumbled upon "longislandindex" independently and then checked if it has been mentioned here and found this thread.

Long Island Index: Long Island Index

Call me chicken little / little house .. whatever , but one of the following things must happen for the housing market on LI to get more action and for house prices to stabilize and start increasing:

1) salaries must go up, a lot
2) "poor" people (households making < $150k or so) must leave the island and get replaced by an influx of eligible buyers
or...
3) ?

EDIT: Yeah, forgot one more thing - the insane increase in taxes is not even part of the equation here. "Affordability" is very much hurt by that too.

It's funny, I just posted this index in my last post just now in Crooks thread where he's smokin crack thinking the coast is clear. After I submitted it, your post bumping this thread just popped up.

[Jdawg8181]

Oh dammit, the one time I actually regret putting Walter on ignore lol... i can't access the map!

[Autoracer9]

Long island talking about development what a shock their trying to find every inch of land and drop a house on it what a shame.

[BuffaloTransplant]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

With a show of hands, so to speak, who thinks that this thread should be a "Sticky"?

Yep. make it a sticky.

Great post, Walter -- I loved looking around to see where I grew up.

[gk90]

Definitely a sticky!

Interesting maps--there are houses on our block that I never realized were 2 families, as well as a few where I know 2 families are living that aren't listed as legal 2 family.