Infill development is a concept that refers to the constructive development of unfilled, vacant lands and underused spaces in metropolitan areas. It means the development of uninhabited lands located in urban areas. Infill development encourages such constructive improvements and offers it as an alternative to metropolitan sprawling. It virtually refers to a project of developing housing properties that are built on vacant plots mingled with existing properties in established metropolitan areas. Infill development is a term that can also be used to refer to the refurbishing or revamping of existing houses and buildings in urban neighborhoods. It should be noted that infill development has seen an accelerated rate of growth in U.S. cities owing to increased demand.
In simple terms, infill development is a process by which real estate properties or other facilities are constructed on vacant lands in urban areas that were formerly underutilized or unused. It has been recognized that this type of development effectively increases population density and makes room for environmentally sustainable urban development. This is achieved by making use of existing utilities and infrastructure. Infill development can be done on vacant lands that may have been previously used as industrial lands. For instance, former rail yards, parking spaces, and military bases are popularly used in accomplishing infill development.
The real estate industry has welcomed the concept of infill development with open arms. Ordinarily, any sort of real estate development is acceptable in this context. So, when it comes to infill development, the expenses related to development reduce considerably owing to the use of existing facilities in the process. This is why real estate professionals encourage infill development as it requires less investment while allowing increased financial returns. Proponents of infill development are those people who actively support the cause when it comes to infill development. These people claim that infill development can lead to the construction of well-designed projects. They allege that such projects can allow residents to cut down on their traveling needs by bringing public transportation and basic amenities closer to more households.
It should be noted that infill development often operates in collaboration with urban growth boundaries that positively stipulate the restrictions when it comes to urban development and growth. Additionally, it helps in safeguarding undeveloped plots located on the outskirts of the cities.
It should also be noted that infill sites like industrial lands may pose difficulties to the developers owing to their zoning codes, strict regulations for land use, financing problems, etc.
