Many communities boast a valuable asset-underused land available for development. Land in established communities once used for stores, parking, housing, or offices is now idle because businesses shut down, offices closed, housing was abandoned, or parking was not needed.

Chances are, some of this land is in your community. Together with land in existing communities that was never developed, this land represents a prime opportunity to use development to make your community more pedestrian-friendly; increase the number of jobs in the neighborhoods; provide new shops, services, parks, or recreational facilities; and offer a greater range of housing options.

Infill development is redevelopment and new development on vacant, bypassed, and underused land within built-up areas of existing communities, where infrastructure is in place. By absorbing growth in existing communities, infill relieves growth pressures on rural areas. One of the primary goals of Smart Growth is to enhance quality of life in established communities. Infill development has the potential to fulfill this goal, but projects must contribute to the development of a safe, walkable, and interesting environment and introduce needed amenities, such as parks, shops, and services.

Infill and Redevelopment Models & Guidelines