Vacant buildings in infrastructure projects: strategies for reuse

Abstract

Vacant Buildings in infrastructure projects has become a serious environmental and economic issue in Indian planning scenario. Several instances of newly constructed unoccupied buildings indicate wastage of financial and environmental resources such as virgin building materials and most importantly land resource. Vacant vegetable markets constructed as a part of public infrastructure projects by municipal authorities in many cities particularly in the city of Nasik is a glaring example of such redundant investments in Maharashtra state of India. Large scale presence of abandoned, vacant and unoccupied buildings is resulting into an ineffective use of resources and increasing risk to first responders and the community. Vacant and abandoned properties, whether residential or commercial, are a drain on city budgets in addition to detracting from the quality of life, as well as the economic opportunities, of those living around them. They are an impediment to individual neighbourhood redevelopment and, ultimately, to achievement of city wide economic development goals. Minimizing the harm done by vacant and abandoned properties and restoring these properties to productive use are priorities for city planners across the globe. This research attempts to quantify the amount of resources in terms of embodied energy invested into such projects using a case study method. It further evaluates the reuse potential of such built spaces to prompt the meaningful use of resources by investigating its structural capacity and architectural configuration. A spatial analysis with respect to adjacent land uses will also be done to identify the best suitable reuse of the case-study building. Finally, this research draws conclusions to suggest planning strategies to prevent building vacancy in public sector buildings and also reuse strategies for existing unoccupied buildings to evade wastage of environmental resources.