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By James Landers of Tampa, President of High Point Development. High Point Development is a Tampa based Urban Infill Development firm.

As a communities deal with infrastructure issues related to growth, planners are encouraged to investigate the advantages of infill projects. Part 1 of the Series explores the advantages or urban infill.

Improves EXISTING Communities

Typical master development plans adopted over the past several decades unintentionally ignored many neighborhoods and thus broke up the inherit advantages of community. Focusing development priorities into these areas can have a dramatic impact on communities economically. The migration to the suburbs has created a void for demand that will attract workers and families back to the area in which they work. Complementing the housing with retail, parks and other public spaces benefits the community as a whole.

Positive Impact on the Environment

Infill makes use of currently developed land which will reduce land demand outside of urban centers and undeveloped parcels elsewhere. By locating residents closer to their place of work, Infill directly reduces the miles driven by single occupant vehicles thus reducing emissions and improving air quality, shares James Landers of Tampa. By using existing developed land, demand for infrastructure extensions will be reduced. Lastly, water quality improves by the introduction of new methods of capturing and treating runoff.

james & chafika landers

Reduction of Tax Burden

By using existing infrastructure capacity instead of extending infrastructure, investment in infrastructure is reduced. This reduction in demand results in less demand for revenue (taxes) or an improvement in other municipality services such as police and fire departments.

Better Transportation Options

The primary form of transportation into our urban centers is the automobile. The community ultimately shoulders the burden for this in various costs such as roads, emissions and lost productivity. Improved proximity to where people work and play will directly increase the options people use. More biking and walking will be the result. Further, the centralization and concentration of development creates the demand for more efficient transportation requiring a critical mass to support the expenditure, shares James Landers of Tampa.

Improvement in the Quality of Life

Lower transportation costs and commuting time are a direct benefit to those choosing Infill housing options. Further, they also typically enjoy lower energy costs due to smaller footprint buildings.