Land usage - downsizing

Another interesting article from the News on the need for Detroit to downsize.

http://detnews.com/article/20091203/OPINION01/912030346/1008/Downsize-Detroit--Strengthen-city-by-phasing-out-depleted-neighborhoods

Some highlights:

• Blighted neighborhoods should systematically be repurposed
• Urban farming should take root in many of the vacant 40 square miles - during the Great Depression, much US produce came from urban farming "Victory Gardens"
• Detroit had no urban planning in the early 1900s - now we are dealing with the mess
• Most of Detroit is small residential lots or irregular industrial ones - bad for redevelopment
• City should retain ownership of empty lots and foreclosed properties to facilitate redevelopment