Long Island Index Archive 2003-2018

The 2018 report revisited economic indicators and found that Long Island in 2018 looks much as it did a generation ago. Its attractive neighborhoods of single-family homes were built mostly during Long Island’s growth spurt from the 1940s to the 1970s. The network of highways was largely completed in the 1970s, and the rail lines decades earlier. Yet the demographics, economy and outlook for Nassau and Suffolk are far different. The population is far more diverse. Health care has replaced manufacturing as the dominant industry. Growth has slowed to a crawl. The survey findings highlighted residents’ concerns for future growth of the region.

In 2017, the Index examined the region’s accessory apartments laws and the lessons learned across Long Island about that type of housing. Later in the year, the Index took a look at the redevelopment of the Nassau Coliseum as an exciting first step in transforming that area into a 21st century innovative biotech hub.

In 2016, the Index found that while Long Island is building more rentals, co-ops, condos and other multifamily homes than it has in past decades, there is still an enormous gap between what is being produced and what the region needs. The Index mapped 1,456 rental buildings and 882 coops and condos across both counties to see the stock that exists here and created a case study to explore what it takes to build on Long Island. A survey was also conducted that asked residents’ ongoing concerns about local life with a special focus on the local housing supply and its affordability.

In 2015 the Index took a look back at the demographic changes that have occurred on Long Island over the past 40 years. The Index report tackled the economic stagnation facing Long Island and showed that if the trends of the past 20 years continue into the future, Long Island will have greatly reduced potential. Continuing their work on understanding Long Island’s complex system of school districts, the Index reported on the racial and funding inequalities across districts.

The 2014 Long Island Index asked four nationally recognized architectural firms to help us imagine what might be possible for four Long Island communities. The ParkingPLUS Design Challenge revealed new concepts of parking design to both rethink and enliven our downtowns. Later that year the Index published an in-depth study on how building the Third Track on the Main Line of the LIRR would have a transformational impact on the region and a survey about looking ahead on Long Island. 

The 2013 Index report focused again on our economy and looks at the Long Island Rail Road’s untapped potential to transform the economies of Nassau and Suffolk by growing the number of high-salary Manhattan commuters living on Long Island and by creating new job centers and housing developments near LIRR stations. Focusing on the potential to rethink how we build in our downtowns and the fact that there are more than 4,000 acres of surface parking lots within a half-mile of our downtown centers.

2012’s report looked at Long Island’s economy and our potential to become an innovative powerhouse. Citing the large number of scientific labs and universities, the report found that Long Island can transform itself much as San Diego has done over the past 20 years. A separate report provided an update on the key Long Island indicators that the Index had been tracking since its inception. When a new school year started, the Index took a look at racial segregation between the districts and found an alarming growth over the previous ten years. Later that year the Index published a new series of maps defining the boundaries for all of Long Island’s service providers whether the service was provided by a special district or managed by village, town or county government. 

In 2011, the Index focused on Long Island’s development review process and zoning regulations and asked how these needed to change if we were going to make the best use of our downtown assets. The Index surveyed hundreds of residents to ask about their overall satisfaction with life on Long Island and their openness to change particularly in their downtowns.

2010's report revisited one of Long Island’s greatest assets — our downtowns. Analyzing how much available land might be available within a 1/2 mile of our downtown centers, the Index calculated that on the 8,300 available acres there is the potential to build 90,000 new housing units. 

The 2009 Index focused on education and specifically, the structural inefficiencies and inequalities and mismatch in funding versus student needs. Among the anomalies the Index reported, in districts where student needs are greatest, per-pupil spending is the least. By contrast, in districts where large sums are spent, academic achievement is no higher than in mid-range schools. The Index also explored child care and outdoor space available for the Island’s children.

The 2008 Index focus was on downtown development and how these areas could be a source for new affordable housing. The Index survey reported on the willingness of Long Islanders to live, work, and shop in downtown locations.

The 2007 Index report paid particular attention to how several indicators, particularly the economy, housing, education and health, impacted different socio-economic groups within the region.  Doing a deeper dive on the issue of Long Island’s multiple special districts, the Index compared costs for fire districts and public schools on Long Island and in Northern Virginia to understand how vastly different costs could be when governance was controlled by very few entities as in Virginia compared to multiple entities on Long Island.

The 2006 Index emphasized Long Island as a region: comparable to others, similar to some, unique in many ways. The report looked at where we are succeeding competitively and particularly, where we still face significant challenges. A new poll revisited local opinion on the economy, taxes, housing costs and services. Looking to go beyond averages, the Index survey queried residents about their experience of the changing economic opportunities in the region.

The 2005 Index sought to emphasize the interrelatedness among indicators. Another survey was undertaken to explore local opinions on taxes, housing costs and services. 

2004: Measuring Long Island's progress and stagnation