The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values

Researchers found that the opening of a community garden had a statistically significant positive impact on residential properties within 1000 feet of the garden, and tht the impact increased over time. Gardens had the greatest impact in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Higher quality gardens had the greatest positive impact. Finally, researchers found that the opening of a garden was associated with other changes in the neighborhood, such as increasing rates of homeownership, and thus may be serving as catalysts for economic redevelopment of the community.