“We wanted to find an infill site,” he says. “Cities work best when they grow from the inside.”

As the Upstate continues to draw newcomers, the real estate market is responding in several ways. Rural land is being converted to subdivisions. Downtown properties are being redeveloped into high-end condos. Profit-seeking remodelers are buying residences in mature, intown neighborhoods.

Then there are the vacant parcels in areas such as Greenville’s North Main neighborhood. More and more of those sites are being developed to take advantage of existing infrastructure and the neighborhood’s proximity to downtown.

Randy Rice of Coldwell Banker Caine refers to infill as "overlooked land that’s a challenge to build on."

Coldwell Banker Caine is marketing Gilley’s development, called The Elements.

The three-acre project consists of 19 units in a mix of 1-2 story and 2-3 bedroom models. It is being positioned as an environmentally sensitive development built to EarthCraft and Energy Star standards.

The city of Greenville has proposed a bike trail along Richland Creek that The Elements will link to. Greenville City Council member Diane Smock says infill development is not surprising in that part of town, where annexation is difficult and "a lot of the low-hanging fruit has been plucked."

The city has expressed an interest in creating affordable housing near downtown.

Meanwhile, escalating land values make it a business necessity to develop either high-end or multi-family projects. As condos and townhouses are proposed in and around single-family-home neighborhoods, Smock says the community will "have to face the 'D' question – density."

"It's a tough one," she says. "I hope, instead of clashing, there’s mutual respect and dialogue."

Gilley is part of TRV Development Inc., which will serve as builder-developer. His father, Jerry, "has done a few thousand houses around the Southeast," he says.

Business brought the younger Gilley to Greenville three years ago, and he and his wife "just fell in love with the city completely." He then began looking for a potential development site, which brought him to Mohawk Drive, which sits on the edge of the North Main community near Wade Hampton Boulevard.

"We needed to get some density on that site to make the project work for us," Gilley says.

TRV proposed a 40-unit development, which met with pushback from neighbors. The site has long been undeveloped and runs down to Richland Creek, a Reedy River tributary.

Rice says the developers met with neighborhood leaders and tried to address their concerns.

"Nick and his dad, their forte is infill development," he says. "They want to be a part of the community and blend in rather than just ramming something down their throats."

Gilley says a certain amount of density was needed to keep the units affordable.

"We’ve cut back buildings to save trees," he says.

Trees were also on the mind of Hogan Properties' Sean Hogan in developing The Edge, which consists of 50 units carved into 6.2 acres along an embankment across from Rotary Park.

"We didn’t have a lot of room and were trying to save as many trees as possible," he says.

Thirty-five of the units sold at an April 2005 auction, but "unanticipated design delays" impacted the project.

"Infill construction is very meticulous work," Hogan says. "The vertical construction is way ahead of schedule."

“We're not outside the norm if you look at some of the other projects around town."

It, too, is an Energy Star development. Including resales, there are approximately 20 units for sale at The Edge. Agent Jill Gabler of ERA Upstate lists units ranging in size from 1,230 – 1,815 square feet at prices from $254,900 – $384,800. Move-ins are expected to start Jan. 5.

Gilley expects to spend the next 90 days conducting site work for The Elements before construction begins.

"By maybe June of next year we should be giving away some keys," he says.

There are 10 units for sale in the first phase, ranging in size from 1,050-1,371 square feet at prices from $169,995 – $248,151.

"We're definitely targeted toward young professionals – first-time homebuyers," Gilley says.

TRV will use porous concrete at The Elements to limit runoff and is offering 10-foot x 10-foot garden plots to residents.

EarthCraft House is a green building program created by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association that reduces pollution.

Energy Star is a federal program that promotes energy-efficient design and products.