I've done some analysis of parcel data of buildings in the Central West End to determine the most influential decades on its architecture. I think of the CWE as being an architecturally diverse area in terms of having a variety of Pre-war II, Mid-Century Modern and Postmodern architecture. The results were somewhat of a surprise to me however. First, the hard numbers:
Number of parcels and residential units built during the pre-World War II era by decade:
1880s: 29 parcels, 30 units
1890s: 400 parcels, 613 units
1900s: 695 parcels, 1,954 units
1910s: 133 parcels, 686 units
1920s: 131 parcels, 2,337 units
1930s: 30 parcels, 269 units
1940s: 19 parcels, 121 units
Number of parcels and units built during the Mid-Century era by decade:
1950s: 26 parcels, 621 units
1960s: 44 parcels, 1,350 units
1970s: 26 parcels, 774 units
Number of parcels and units built during the Postmodern era by decade:
1980s: 152 parcels, 866 units
1990s: 83 parcels, 522 units
2000s: 191 parcels, 972 units
2010s: 53 parcels, 944 units
2020s: 32 parcels, 549 units
I was surprised that so much of the built environment was actually from the belle epoque (Pre World War I), obviously the 1920s saw the most units built with larger apartment buildings but a majority of individual buildings are from the 1890s or 1900s. Also how few individual buildings were built during the mid century modern era, obviously a lot of units were built in this time period, especially the 1960s, but the impact on the built environments seems more muted than I might have thought.
The 1980s had a big impact on the neighborhood's building stock, though it does explain the sizeable number of gated courtyard condo like developments that dot the area. Also if the 2020s continue to produce units at the clip they have so far, it will likely be the most units added since the 1960s, perhaps even the 1920s.
Finally, a caveat that the city's parcel data is not 100% accurate and there were some parcels without building year data, some of which I was able to research and find the date of and others not.
Number of parcels and residential units built during the pre-World War II era by decade:
1880s: 29 parcels, 30 units
1890s: 400 parcels, 613 units
1900s: 695 parcels, 1,954 units
1910s: 133 parcels, 686 units
1920s: 131 parcels, 2,337 units
1930s: 30 parcels, 269 units
1940s: 19 parcels, 121 units
Number of parcels and units built during the Mid-Century era by decade:
1950s: 26 parcels, 621 units
1960s: 44 parcels, 1,350 units
1970s: 26 parcels, 774 units
Number of parcels and units built during the Postmodern era by decade:
1980s: 152 parcels, 866 units
1990s: 83 parcels, 522 units
2000s: 191 parcels, 972 units
2010s: 53 parcels, 944 units
2020s: 32 parcels, 549 units
I was surprised that so much of the built environment was actually from the belle epoque (Pre World War I), obviously the 1920s saw the most units built with larger apartment buildings but a majority of individual buildings are from the 1890s or 1900s. Also how few individual buildings were built during the mid century modern era, obviously a lot of units were built in this time period, especially the 1960s, but the impact on the built environments seems more muted than I might have thought.
The 1980s had a big impact on the neighborhood's building stock, though it does explain the sizeable number of gated courtyard condo like developments that dot the area. Also if the 2020s continue to produce units at the clip they have so far, it will likely be the most units added since the 1960s, perhaps even the 1920s.
Finally, a caveat that the city's parcel data is not 100% accurate and there were some parcels without building year data, some of which I was able to research and find the date of and others not.
