Violent Crime in the Mid-Atlantic

Decline of Violent Crime/Homicides Continued in 2014

Metropolitan Police Dept. of the District of Columbia (MPD) Patrol Car, Washington D.C.
Photo Credit: Joe Flood via Flickr

While the Mid-Atlantic is widely known as home to some of the most dangerous cities in the nation, overall the vast majority of the region's cities are relatively safe. Moreover, the overall violent crime rate, as well as the homicide rate specifically, have been in decline in most of the region's big cities recently, mirroring national trends. Most notable is New York City, NY, which had an amazingly low 328 homicides in 2014 (3.9 per 100,000 residents)-- an improvement over the already impressive 335 total homicides in 2013 (4.0/100,000) and a rate unheard of for a large, densely populated city in the U.S. The city with the next lowest murder rate was Jersey city with 23 total murders (9.0/100,000)--over the double the rate of New York. 

New York Police Dept. (NYPD) Officer and Patrol Car, New York City
Photo Credit: Jay Miller via Flickr

Topping the list of large cities in the Mid-Atlantic, in terms of homicide rates for 2014, was Baltimore, MD with 211 murders total (33.9/100,000) barely edging out Newark, NJ which had 93 total murders (33.4/100,000). The good news is that, as in New York City, the number of homicides for 2014 in both Baltimore and Newark decreased from their 2013 totals. Murder rates in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia for 2014 were pretty much unchanged compared to the previous year (105 total,16.2/100,000 and 248 total,16.0/100,000 respectively). Unfortunately, homicide rates in the Rust Belt cities of Pittsburgh and Buffalo increased significantly. Even more troubling is the rate of violent crime and homicide in some of the small cities of the Mid-Atlantic. 

NYPD Precinct Times Square, New York City
Photo Credit: Tony Fischer via Flickr

Generally speaking, small cities tend to have significantly lower crime rates than their larger peers, but three of the region's smaller cities buck this trend in a major way. Camden, NJ; Trenton, NJ; and Wilmington, DE all had murder rates significantly higher than any of the largest cities in the region. Camden, NJ, often labeled as the "most dangerous city in America", actually saw a whopping 42.1% reduction in total homicides for 2014 compared to 2013 (33 in 2014 compared to 57 in 2013), but still had the highest murder rate (42.7/100,000) of any Mid-Atlantic city large or small in 2014. Trenton (41.5/100,000) and Wilmington (39.2/100,000) weren't far behind though.

Below is a table listing the frequencies and rates of violent crime and homicide in the Mid-Atlantic's largest cities in 2013 and 2014:

City	Population	Violent crime	Rate /100,000	Murders 2013	Rate /100,000	Murders 2014	Rate /100,000
Baltimore, MD	622,671	8,725	1,401.2	233	37.4	211	33.9
Newark, NJ	278,246	3,516	1,263.6	112	40.3	93	33.4
Buffalo, NY	258,789	3,249	1,255.5	47	18.2	62	24.0
Pittsburgh, PA	307,632	2,259	734.3	45	14.6	71	23.1
Washington, D.C.	646,449	7,880	1,219.0	103	15.9	105	16.2
Philadelphia, PA	1,553,153	17,074	1,099.3	247	15.9	248	16.0
Jersey City, NJ	256,886	1,655	644.3	20	7.8	23	9.0
New York, NY	8,396,126	52,384	623.9	335	4.0	328	3.9

*The 2013 numbers are from 2013 edition of the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report published last fall. Homicide totals for 2014 are from local media reports and the rates are based on 2013 population numbers

City Halls of the Mid-Atlantic

The region boasts a vast collection of architecturally impressive municipal headquarters 

The city hall is the principal administrative building of a city. As symbols of local government, city halls often have distinctive architecture, and many of these buildings have great historical significance, being among the oldest buildings in their cities. 

The Mid-Atlantic region, which is one of the oldest and most heavily populated regions in the nation, is home to a relatively large number of city halls. As you'll see further down this page, certain city halls in the Mid-Atlantic hold records for being largest, tallest, or oldest in the nation. 

Most city halls in the region were built in the late 1800's when urban areas began to see heavy population growth, and municipal government services were in high demand. City halls in this era were usually built in central locations and designed in some form of Revival Architecture which gave these buildings with a grand presence. In addition to their elaborate architectural, many city halls were the among the largest buildings in their respective cities, and some still are today.  

Below you can view photos and information of the most exquisite city halls located in the Mid-Atlantic's largest (incorporated) cities.

WASHINGTON D.C.

John A. Wilson Building
Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz via flickr

Year Constructed: 1904
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 646,449
Notes: Originally named the "District Building," the John A. Wilson Building is the city's second city hall. The original city hall was constructed in 1820 in the Neoclassical Style and is currently home to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals


DELAWARE
Wilmington

Daniel L. Hermann Courthouse

Year Constructed: 1916
Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival-Greek Revival
City Population (2013): 71,525
Notes: This building originally held a number of courts and municipal offices and was at one point informally named the "Public Building," receiving it's current name only a couple of decades ago. The city and county government offices eventually moved to the Louis L. Redding City-County Building (built 1977) and in 2002 the courts moved to the newly built Justice Center, leaving the building vacant. The building was eventually purchased by developers and converted to office space, which has been occupied by a prestigious law firm since 2009.

MARYLAND
Baltimore

Baltimore City Hall

Year Constructed: 1875

Architectural Style: Second Empire
City Population (2013): 622,104
Notes: Designed by George Aloysius Frederick, a 22-year old architect. The building cost $2,271,136 and took eight years to complete.

Annapolis

Annapolis City Hall

Year Constructed: 1764 (original structure), 1867 (current structure)
Architectural Style: Neoclassical-Georgian
City Population (2013): 38,722
Notes: The original structure on this site was known as the "Ball Room" and used as different points in history as a meeting place of the Maryland Assembly, local headquarters
of Union troops during the Civil War, a guard house, and a prison camp. While being used as a prison camp it burned down and a new city hall was built on the ruins using three of the exterior walls of the original building.

The Mid-Atlantic's Most Expensive Urban Condos

These extremely pricey, ultra-luxury, ultra-extravagant, ultra-exclusive properties cater to celebrities, CEO's, and power brokers

This past spring a 6,737 sq. ft. condominium unit in Friendship Heights, MD sold for $8.65 million to an undisclosed buyer, a new record for the Washington D.C. area. This happened barely a year after the same unit set the previous sale record at $7.95 million. The 18th-floor penthouse unit located at the exclusive Parc Somerset high-rise has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, 300-degree views, multiple balconies, and a solarium. 

In light of this record-breaking sale and the resurgence of the urban luxury condo market, this is a great time to look at the most expensive condominium units in the major urban areas of the Mid-Atlantic. As you'll see below, New York is clearly the champion (by a mile) of commanding stratospheric prices for condo units.

Washington D.C. Area

Parc Somerset

Parc Somerset

Highest price for unit: $8.65 million
Building height: 18 stories
Location: Friendship Heights, MD

Located just a half mile across the border from Washington D.C. in the urban Friendship Heights neighborhood of Chevy Chase, MD, Parc Somerset is part of a three building condo complex collectively called Somerset House which is composed of high-rises 18 to 21 stories tall. Despite being nestled in a gated 17-acre park-like oasis that includes tennis and racquetball courts, clubhouse, and gym, residents are within walking distance of plenty of shopping and transportation amenities. These include ultra-high end stores such as Saks 5th Avenue, Cartier, Bulgari, Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, and Tiffany's which line a segment of Wisconsin Ave known as the "Rodeo Drive of DC," a plethora of upscale restaurants, Whole Foods and Giant grocery stores, and a Metro station on the Red Line. Residents include former National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and JLL CEO Colin Dyer.

Upcoming competition:
The Lauren Bethesda

The Lauren Bethesda

Under construction in the heart of downtown Bethesda, just 10 minutes up ritzy Wisconsin Ave from Parc Somerset, is a condo development likely to challenge the Somerset's reign as the most exclusive condo in the DC Area. This 7-story, 40-unit project named The Lauren will boast direct access elevators, private rooftop terraces for select units, home automation systems featuring iPad control, and private wine cellars. In addition, the building will also be within walking distance of a Red Line station and high-end shopping/restaurants. Sale prices for typical units will range between $2.5 and $5 million. The 5,700 sq. ft. penthouse (which comes with a "butler pantry" and maids quarters') "will be priced fairly dearly," according to the developer.

In addition to The Lauren, luxury home-builder Toll Brothers is preparing to construct their own 7-story condo building practically next door on the same block. There are three other condo projects on the near term horizon in Downtown Bethesda, the current hotspot for luxury condos in the Washington D.C. Area.

Philadelphia Metro Area

1706 Rittenhouse Square Street

1706 Rittenhouse

Highest price for unit: $12,459,000
Building height: 31 stories
Location: Center City, Philadelphia, PA

Located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Philadelphia, this 31-story luxury high-rise was completed in 2010 and is currently 100% sold. The building is currently home to surgeons, pediatricians, real estate magnates, CEOs, and two Phillies pitchers. Each 4,200 sq. ft. unit is comprised of a full floor (with the exception of the two-story penthouse) and has a floor-plan customized by the buyer. One special amenity of note is an automated, 64-space underground parking garage. Residents use their fob to call for their vehicle from the garage or from within one of the two elevator banks.



Upcoming competition:
500 Walnut

500 Walnut

A follow up on the successful 1706 Rittenhouse project, 500 Walnut will be located at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets across Independence National Historical Park from Independence Hall. The building will be 26 stories tall and will have 37 condo units. It will include "ultra-luxury" amenities such as a two-story fitness center fully equipped with yoga room, massage room and steam room, as well as a a large outdoor terrace overlooking National Historic Park. Two two-story, 8,400 sq. ft. penthouse units will be available, each featuring a private elevator, multiple balconies, and fireplaces. Like it's older sibling, 1706 Rittenhouse, 500 Walnut will also boast a fully automated underground parking system for over 80 vehicles. Groundbreaking is expected Spring 2015 with delivery in Spring 2017.

A Review of 2013 and a Look Ahead to 2014

There was quite a number of big news stories coming from the urban areas of the Mid-Atlantic in 2013. Below, we'll take a look at the most notable ones in each major city, as well as some more general trends apparent across the entire region. We'll also look at some of the most highly anticipated events of 2014.

Washington D.C.

Rendering of future DC United Stadium
Photo Credit: DC United

2013
DC United Stadium: DC United reached a tentative deal with the city to construct a new $300 million, 20,000 seat stadium in SW DC. The move is expected to spark continue the "revitalization" of the long-neglected neighborhoods in the area.

New Walmart Stores: The national retail behemoth opened two "urban-style" stores in NW Washington DC this month after a summer of controversy involving a new minimum wage bill that threatened to terminate the projects altogether. Three more stores are planned for the city, including one that is already under construction.

Bridges Complete: The 11th Street Bridges carrying I-695 and MLK Jr. Ave SE across the Anacostia River and the Wilson Bridge carrying the Beltway (I-95/I-495) across the Potomac River were officially completed this year. The bridges were largely complete at the beginning of the year, but minor construction work remained to be finished.

New Transportation Funding: Both Maryland and Northern Virginia received a major boost in funding for new transportation projects and system maintenance thanks to increases in gas and sales taxes respectively. 

City Center DC: The nearly $950 million, 5- block development began to deliver this month with apartments becoming available for lease. The second phase of the development, one of the largest in the nation, is expected to break ground next year and include a luxury hotel.

Mid-Atlantic States Show Average Population Growth in 2013

According to the 2013 state population estimates released on Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau, the states of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Washington D.C. individually showed growth rates ranging from strong to weak, with the region's overall growth rate being decidedly below average. The estimates were taken on July 1, 2013. Here are some quick observations:

- All five Mid-Atlantic state with the exception of Delaware were in the top 20 most populous states, including New York and Pennsylvania, which were in the top 10

- The District of Columbia had a far higher growth rate than any of the states in the region, which is not surprising since urban areas have recently started to outpace many suburbs and rural areas in terms of growth.

- Pennsylvania easily had the most disappointing growth in the region and was the third slowest growing state in the entire nation between 2012 and 2013 (after Maine and West Virginia which both saw population declines)

- Florida, which added ~270,000 residents as the 8th fastest growing state in the nation is only ~100,000 residents away from displacing New York as the 3rd most populous state, which will likely happen some point next year

- Delaware was the fastest growing state in the region in 2013, ranking 16th with a nearly .1% rate of growth

- After Delaware, Maryland was the next fastest growing state in the region, ranking 23rd with a relatively average .7% growth rate

- New York and New Jersey both had below average growth, ranking 31st and 32nd respectively in terms of growth

Libraries: Setting a new standard for avant-garde urban design?

Part II- Washington D.C. & Montgomery County, MD

This article one part of a multi-segment series titled The Urban Transformation, which takes a look at how certain public institutions and private businesses are adapting to nascent urban environments

Acknowledging the importance of public libraries, a number of local governments across the nation have proceeded with ambitious plans to dramatically modernize their libraries to accommodate, rather than fall victim to, the digital age. One library in San Antonio, Texas has even abandoned books entirely, becoming "all digital." In the DC Metro Area, both the District of Columbia and Montgomery County public library systems have sought to revolutionize their respective libraries with new, architecturally-striking buildings designed to emphasize the "community meeting place" and "digital information access" functions of libraries.

District of Columbia Public Libraries

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, NW Washington D.C.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

A number of older DC's libraries already have distinct architecture, such as the international-style Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe which serves as the main facility for the District of Columbia Public Libraries (DCPL) system. However, until recently the majority of the system's libraries have the "traditional" bland, boxy, cramped, uninspired, library design  Over the past several years though, 14 of DCPL's 24 libraries have been rebuilt or renovated as part of the library system's ambitious "Library Building Program" with several more renovations, rebuilds, and expansions planned. The program sought to build "21st-century" libraries through community input by conducting community meetings, outreach activities, and focus groups. As a result each library is tailored to its specific surrounding community and no two libraries are the same. 

Libraries: Setting a new standard for avant-garde urban design?

Part I

Seattle Central Library, Seattle, WA
Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Steven Pavlov

This article is one part of a multi-segment series titled The Urban Transformation, which takes a look at how certain public institutions and private businesses are adapting to nascent urban environments

In many cities across the United States some of the most architecturally distinctive and impressive buildings are libraries. In the Mid-Atlantic the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and the main branch building of the New York Public Library are two of the most iconic buildings and are part of the second and third largest libraries in the world respectively. Both buildings feature neoclassical architecture and were constructed around the same time in the 1890's. In a number of urban communities in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as around the country, there is a growing trend to build architecturally striking libraries, if not quite at the same enormous scale as the grand libraries of the late 19th century.

Libraries as Architectural Icons
The main purpose of libraries has always been to serve as physical (and now virtual) repositories of society's collective knowledge, history, and achievements in all fields from religion to science to culture. Therefore it is fitting that libraries visually reflect the content they contain and provide inspiration to visitors and passers-by.

Soaring to New Heights: The Growing Airports of the Mid-Atlantic

John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York, NY
Image courtesy allairports.net

According to the FAA's report on the busiest airports in the US (by total passenger boardings) for 2012, eight of the 50 busiest airports in the nation are located in the Mid-Atlantic. Of these eight airports, three are in the New York metropolitan area, three are in the Baltimore-Washington metro area, one is in the Philadelphia metro area, and one is in the Pittsburgh metro area. The busiest American airport in 2012 was once again Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with 45,798,809 enplanements. The busiest airport in the Mid-Atlantic (and 6th busiest nationally) was New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Spotlight on BWI Airport: Rapidly expanding airport regains title of busiest airport in Balt-Wash Metro

In recent years Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport), has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Built in 1947 in unincorporated Anne Arundel County, MD near Glen Burnie, and originally named Friendship International Airport, it became the first airport in the region (and one of the first in the nation) with the ability to serve jet aircraft in 1957. In 1974, Friendship Airport (which is approximately equidistant from Washington D.C. as Dulles Airport) was renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport to attract a greater share of the Washington D.C. air travel market. BWI Rail Station, which was dedicated on October 23, 1980, further increased the airport's connection to the Washington D.C. market and was the first intercity rail station in the U.S. built to service an airport.

Promotional shot of Friendship airport on opening day in 1947
Image courtesy of Kilduffs

In the following decades BWI grew to become a major domestic and international airport, as well as an important hub for Piedmont Airlines (and later it's successor USAir/US Airways) all the while maintaining its status as busiest airport in the region. BWI's legacy as a hub for low-fare airlines began in 1993 when Southwest Airlines selected BWI Airport as their East Coast gateway and has steadily expanded ever since. In 1997 the airport completed several major expansion projects including a parking garage expansion providing a total of 5,600 spaces and a $140 million international terminal which included a MTA Light Rail station serving a branch extension of the system. Four years later AirTran Airways launched service to Atlanta and Boston and proceeded to grow a hub that eventually saw 5,100 passengers a day to 29 non-stop destinations in 2011, when the airline merged with Southwest. In the same year BWI was named the fastest-growing of the 30 busiest airports in the nation.

Urbanizing America: The Mid-Atlantic

The Baltimore-Washington Metro Area from Space
(Washington D.C. at top of photo, Baltimore is below) 
Image Courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center

White Flight and Suburbanization

Suburban sprawl around Los Angeles
Image by flickr user ATIS547

While most metropolitan areas in the Mid-Atlantic continue to grow steadily, population growth within the metro areas themselves, in terms of cities vs suburbs, is uneven. From the 1950's up until the early 2000's population and economic growth in America has been strongest in its suburbs. There were a large number of catalysts for this growth shift out of urban areas, the most notable of which is the "white flight" phenomenon of white Americans leaving industrial cities for new housing in their suburbs. This in turn was precipitated by the “Great Migration” of economically disadvantaged African-Americans from the South (were racism was still prevalent and job opportunities scarce) to industrialized cities in the Northeast and Midwest between 1940 and 1970. As blacks moved into traditional white European-American neighborhoods, ethnic frictions served to accelerate flight into the suburbs because of lower property values and higher crime rates. 

The Growing Metropoltan Areas of the Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic from Space
From upper L to R: Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. 
(Richmond and Hampton Roads in VA are also partially visible at the far left and lower left parts of the photo respectively)
Image Courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center

The  Northeast is one of the most populous and most densely populated regions in the United States. This past spring, the Census Bureau released its 2012 population estimates for the nation's metropolitan areas. The estimated population for the largest combined metropolitan areas (CSA's*) in the Northeast was 50,475,854, or approximately 16% of the U.S. population. The Mid-Atlantic accounts for a significant portion of that total, with a population of 39,823,114 in its three major combined metro areas (New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore-Washington D.C.). A table with the 2012 populations of the largest individual metro areas (MSAs) in the region is posted after the break:

Washington's Skyscrapers: The Tallest Buildings in the DC Metro Area

Updated 08/02/13

Washington D.C. is well-known for its uniform skyline of buildings all built up to around the same height, with the few exceptions being a handful of famous monuments and the U.S. Capitol. The main reason that DC (which currently has a population of over 600,000 residents), doesn't have a towering skyline  like other major cities such as New York or San Francisco is the Heights of Buildings Act of 1910. 

The 1910 Act is the most recent of a series of height restrictions, the first of which was put into law by D.C. Commissioners in 1894 in response to DC's first residential "skyscraper," the 14-story/164 ft. Cairo Hotel (now a condominium building known simply as "The Cairo"). The 1910 Act passed by Congress, which is still in force today, states that maximum height for buildings in DC is 90 feet (27 m) on residential streets, 130 feet (40 m) on commercial streets, and 160 feet (49 m) on a small portion of Pennsylvania Ave.

The Cairo, DC's first "skyscraper"

Over the past decade or so (most recently in 2012) there have been numerous attempts to remove or relax the city's height limit. However, there has also been some vocal opposition, particularly from historical preservationists, that skyscrapers would ruin views of the city's iconic monuments. In general, the District government is very supportive of the removal of height limits in order for it to maintain more control over development, and to maximize land usage in a city that is quickly running out of space to grow and where rent is among the highest in the nation. 

Some proposals have suggested removing the limits in only certain parts of the city, such as east of the Anacostia river. As a big fan of DC architecture I personally wouldn't mind seeing the height limits remaining in place. The uniform-height urban "canyons" that exist downtown on major roads such as K Street and Connecticut Ave are unique to this country and projects an image of orderliness that matches DC's status as the seat of the federal government. Paris also has similar height limits in place for most of the city.