Detroit wants to save itself by shrinking

[eeyore]

Another article about Detroit's possible plans to shrink, however this one has a different focus. The city cannot support the size of its infrastructure any longer. It does not have the tax base to exist on the current level, so their most logical choice is to make the city physically smaller. I've never been there, so I can't speak to the areas that the city would like to return to farm/nature, but that has to be a better option than rotting urban blight. Interesting stuff.


AP
DETROIT – Detroit, the very symbol of American industrial might for most of the 20th century, is drawing up a radical renewal plan that calls for turning large swaths of this now-blighted, rusted-out city back into the fields and farmland that existed before the automobile. Operating on a scale never before attempted in this country, the city would demolish houses in some of the most desolate sections of Detroit and move residents into stronger neighborhoods. Roughly a quarter of the 139-square-mile city could go from urban to semi-rural.

Near downtown, fruit trees and vegetable farms would replace neighborhoods that are an eerie landscape of empty buildings and vacant lots. Suburban commuters heading into the city center might pass through what looks like the countryside to get there. Surviving neighborhoods in the birthplace of the auto industry would become pockets in expanses of green. Detroit officials first raised the idea in the 1990s, when blight was spreading. Now, with the recession plunging the city deeper into ruin, a decision on how to move forward is approaching. Mayor Dave Bing, who took office last year, is expected to unveil some details in his state-of-the-city address this month.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_bi_ge/us_downsizing_detroit

[PDJane]

1. Sounds a plan, actually...........

Since, quite frankly, food is going to be an issue at some point.

[Tailormyst]

7. And if they made organic farms it could provide jobs

[FarCenter]

10. Not sure that eating food grown on former Detroit factory sites is a good idea

They better do some thorough testing.

[Tailormyst]

11. True, but maybe the residential areas they reclaim could?

Just a thought. Seems like Detroit might have an opportunity to become a shining star.

[FarCenter]

12. A couple of generations of backyard mechanics have drained stuff into the ground

Besides which there has probably been a bit of refuse burning and disposal of household ashes over the years. You never know what someone took home from the plant and disposed of in the back.

[eeyore]

13. They aren't talking about turning it all into farms..

I'm fairly certain they are talking about nature preserves as well. Nature has already been taking back some of these areas. All manner of wild animals have been returning to what used to be urban Detroit.

They are talking about trying to take the city in a very green direction.

[Arugula Latte]

14. There are already A LOT of gardens/farms on "vacant" plots.

I remember "Oprah" magazine did an article on this a couple years ago, talking about how people in the city were creating all sorts of food-growing spaces. I find this fascinating. It reminds me of the Talking Heads song "Nothing But Flowers."

Here we stand
Like an Adam and an Eve
Waterfalls
The Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
The birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
you've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you've got it, you've got it

Years ago
I was an angry young man
I'd pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With a beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it's only fields and trees
Where, where is the town
Now, it's nothing but flowers
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we'd start over
But I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it

We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it

This was a discount store,
Now it's turned into a cornfield
you got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded here
I can't get used to this lifestyle

[last1standing]

2. I wonder where families will move with their 125% of a couple thousand dollars...

More to the point, I wonder if anyone cares...

[Tailormyst]

6. I think the point would be to move them into homes in more populated areas

If they can pull it off it would be a great idea.

[sandyj999]

3. It is a dream but a good one.

If you actually live here you would welcome this happening. I live about 20-25 minutes from downtown Detroit and it is the most depressing trip to get there. You take the freeway but above you can see the neighborhoods with the burned out houses or ones in terrible disrepair. And if you actually go into the neighborhoods there are many that have a couple of houses on the block that have people living in them. I don't know if this is a practical idea or not but it makes a wonderful dream.

And I will add that if there weren't so many crooked politicians taking money that doesn't belong to them there might be enough money to help relocate people.

[Kaleva]

4. An interesting idea. Rec'd.

[Tailormyst]

5. wow that is a great idea.

I hope they can get that going. Imagine the neighborhoods surrounded by farms and parks. That would be a vast improvement over rotting empty houses.

[JVS]

8. There must be some kind of way for the rich to fuck over the poor and take their money in this.

Otherwise it simply wouldn't be done.

[hobbit709]

9. It will be the new version of "Urban Renewal"

[Heywood J]

15. Considering its current population,

Detroit is one of the most overbuilt cities I've ever seen. Every time I drive through, it's even more depressing. For roughly 3.5M people, the city and surrounding suburbs occupy nearly 35x35 miles. I can't imagine how they're finding it hard to keep up essential services...