This is a very interesting article about Detroit's vacant land (houses, neighborhoods)

[Dexterguy]

Detroit Free Press article:
Map a plan for Detroit's vacant land with trees, farms | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090110/OPINION04/901100326&s=d&page=2#pluckcomments - broken link)

I found this article very interesting because it analyzes what can be done with Detroit.

The article also has a map that shows areas of Detroit on there condition (well maintained, vacant, new developments) I found it to be very interesting.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Might not be a bad idea to shrink the size of the city to fit the population. The city probably won't be 2 million people again.

[Cliffie]

Detroit could make itself some money -- and create jobs -- by using all that empty ground for something productive, all right. Community gardens, greenhouses for raising Detroit-grown produce to feed Michigan in the winter, recreation/ cooling/ warming centers for kids and old people and the homeless and stuff.

[Dwatted Wabbit]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Detroit could make itself some money -- and create jobs -- by using all that empty ground for something productive, all right. Community gardens, greenhouses for raising Detroit-grown produce to feed Michigan in the winter, recreation/ cooling/ warming centers for kids and old people and the homeless and stuff.

Good ideas. Now all it will take is some strong leadership qualities and management skills.

Oh well.

[Coldjensens]

My brother was involved with a group that wanted to grow sunflowers and use them to make ethanol for City vehicles. They chose sunflowers because they are less likely to be stolen than corn or beets. It seemed like a fairly good idea. One big problem whether the land is planted with trees, farm crop, sunflowers or anything else is policing the property. How do they keep the woods or Fields from becoming havens for pot growers, murders, gang banger hangouts, etc etc? Maybe they need to put a fence around the remaining part of the City to keep people in. This would take an immense amount of money to accomplish.

They cannot simply tear up all the sewer and water lines in the deserted areas, because the deserted areas connect to occupied areas. The deserted areas are no all on the fringe of the city, nor are they all in one place. They are scattered all over throughout the city. Some areas, like Delray have huge parcels with no more than two or three occupied houses on them. However in other places, you might have a block or half a block unoccupied with occupied neighborhoods on either side.

A big issue with the demolition is the City's incompetence. The City seems to have problems tearing down the derelict homes and not tearing down a decent occupied home. There are all kinds of stories about them getting mixed up and tearing down someone's house, while leaving the derelict home that they were supposed to demolish. The City refuses to consider getting outside help, they insist on attaining their own incompetent crews or contractors to do the work. If the City had big money for demolition, how many people would lose their homes?