New options for land, houses

As I/we search for land to either build or heavily renovate/expand an existing house, I have noticed a similar trend in the sprawl-burbs as in cities, dead zones. Not cell phone dead zones, but areas that are prime for development to increase density in a positive manner. I do love to preserve "green space", but what the concept of sprawl infill means is fewer farms going the way of the dodo. Parcels of large developments that are not water retention ponds, or being utilized, (or taxed) can be filled in to create a closer, more urban fabric. I know there are enormous parking lots sitting vacant, along with the big box stores that have gone belly up in the last three or four years, so reexamine zoning. Encourage mixed use development and stores, institutions, etc., that are not corporate monsters that erect sprawl one year and gone the next. Re-use the Blockbusters, Circuit Cities, K-marts, into more localized/regional shopping, dining, living experiences. This can only happen when townships and boros examine lost revenue and visual blight. Residential infill of small shops can also act as a local, greener, alternative to hauling the kids to the mega mart each time a quart of milk is needed. I believe this will happen when the distances traveled and the farms going away reach a tipping point towards home owners and business owners feeling an ethical responsibility after this market meltdown.