There are 27 of them in 50 states, according to the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Agrihoods are a twist from typical amenities at master-planned communities like resort pool and community center. These neighborhoods have organic farms run by full-time farm directors, herb gardens, nature trails and, in some cases, are attached to a farmer’s market or farm-to-table restaurant.
While agrihoods give residents a lifestyle left behind in bygone times, hometown values, and access to fresh-grown vegetables, these communities also have big benefits for developers.
“By including a working farm as a central project feature, developers can unlock special advantages, ranging from reduced amenity costs, increased project marketability and faster sales for residential properties to opportunities for enhanced community social ties and access to land for current and would-be farmers,” ULI reported.
There’s a price premium, too. According to Brad Leibov, homes in the agrihood he helped develop in Grayslake, Ill., are going for 30% more than homes in comparable neighborhoods.
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