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Residential Development Shifts Toward Urban Centers

Release Date: 02/27/2009
Contact Information: (News Media Only): Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - Feb. 27, 2009) EPA is today releasing a new report, “Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions,” which examines building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. The report shows that while a large share of new residential construction still takes place on previously undeveloped land at the urban fringe, more than half of the county’s larger metro regions have seen a sharp increase in residential building in urban core areas. EPA believes this trend reflects growing appreciation in many communities for smart growth development that reuses already developed property and infrastructure, protects air and water quality, and preserves natural lands and critical environmental areas.

More information on the report: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/construction_trends.htm