The EPA study, entitled Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions, was published in January 2009. The project, which studied building permits issued during an 18-year period from 1990 to 2007, found that in the fifty largest metropolitan regions of the country, residential building permits for urban areas increased in more than half of those cities.

Even more telling: since 2000, 26 of those cities have seen shares of urban building permits double or triple. Some the cities with the most dramatic increases were New York City, Chicago, Portland, and Atlanta. The study also found that the increase "has been particularly dramatic over the past five years."

Architects See Urbanization, Too

These findings are consistent with recent data from the American Institute of Architects, too. The organization's third quarter 2008 Design Trends Survey stated that "infill locations are growing in popularity, while exurban subdivisions—even with the opportunities they offer for recreational opportunities, open space, and more fully developed community plans—are losing ground because of their lack of access to public transportation and commercial services."

At this year's International Builders Show, a panel of architects echoed this sentiment to a seminar audience of builders. The presenters named urbanization as one of the top four residential design trends now influencing their industry.

Barry Glantz, AIA, of St. Louis, Missouri-based Glantz & Associates Architects, noted he is seeing "a large push back to urban living, and I think it is very popular with certain demographics."

Co-panelist James McDonald of the Washington, DC architecture firm Lessard Group told attendees that "younger and older buyers are looking to live in active locations with lifestyle centers." According to McDonald, "Urbanization, as a trend, goes hand-in-hand with lifestyle choices, as well as economic choices. With fuel prices rising, commuting becoming more difficult and available land stretching further and further out, infill sites are really becoming the lifestyle choice in many urban and suburban locations."

Other Surprises

The EPA study uncovered some other interesting findings with regard to urban residential trends. During the recent housing downturn, permits in many cities did not drop as precipitously as outlying areas. In fact, the report revealed "the number of high density residential units has not declined from the 200,000 units per year levels produced at the height of the real estate boom."

The government study also suggests that transit-oriented projects have played an integral role in regions where urban core building permits have increased.

Greenfields Still Rule

While a noticeable shift is underway toward infill locations, researchers pointed out that residential building permits in urban cores still account for less than half of all development in most regions. In fact, 12 out of 50 cities had very little change in distribution from residential construction on undeveloped land on the urban fringes. These cities include Hartford, CT; Baltimore MD; and San Jose, CA.

Access the EPA report at: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/construction_trends.htm

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