Watch the video on Building for Community.
How can land developers and builders incorporate green building into site selection for large projects, for example, choosing where to locate a new neighborhood of homes, affordable housing units, or master-planned communities that include residential and retail? Green building's answer is: build for community. Building for community, also called infill development, is a green building strategy that encourages developers to weave new construction into areas with existing homes and other buildings. Infill development takes unused or under-used land and buildings and creates new spaces for living, working, and playing. Successful infill development typically is done to be pedestrian-friendly, reducing or eliminating dependence on cars to access amenities.
Existing communities can realize many specific benefits from successful infill development, including:
- Conveniently located housing. Both market-rate and affordable housing can be located near job centers and public transit. Market studies show growing demand and strong sales for in-town housing, live-work units, and other alternatives to the single-family home.
- Increased property-tax base and economic growth. New homes and businesses mean new people to fund the local tax base. New residents also support shopping districts and services, helping to boost the local economy.
- Healthier lifestyles. Homes, shopping, dining, and schools intermingled in a neighborhood encourages more walking and biking and less dependence on cars. It also fosters a sense of community among residents and business owners.
- Enhanced public safety. Mixed-use areas promote lively streets that minimize the opportunity for crime. In addition, windows, balconies, and porches tend to face the street, allowing residents to watch over their communities.
- Increased use of community assets and creation of new ones. Existing parks, infrastructure, and transit that may have been under-used or in disrepair are now needed and maintained. Also, new community assets such as child-care centers, arts districts, and shopping areas are created to serve the increased population.
- Beautification of under-used areas and preservation of virgin land. Ugly, unused, and under-used spaces such as closed shopping malls, vacant lots, and brownfield sites can be re-purposed into productive land. Furthermore, open spaces near the edges of development are preserved in their natural states.
Not all infill development is successful infill development. Success for this type of project requires a common vision and plan from the outset among the developer, local community, and other stakeholders. Also, including mixed-use development in the plan—retail, office space, schools, and housing—is important in creating a truly pedestrian-enabled community. Finally, transportation needs must be considered, both on a regional scale and locally to ensure access to and from the area.
Dozens of U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, and Portland, OR, have completed successful infill development projects in the past decade in urban as well as suburban areas. Case studies of these success stories and additional advice, including funding options, can be found in the book, Strategies for Successful Infill Development, (Northeast-Midwest Institute and Congress for New Urbanism, 2001).
To learn more about building for community, visit:
www.nemw.org
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