Vast Land Deal Divides Detroit

[Paula Martin]

One prominent farmer, John Hantz of Hantz Farms desires to purchase 140 acres of land in Detroit to create the "world's largest urban farm." He believes that the way for advancement in detroit is to return to agriculture, "to its agrarian roots."

This environment could be created by planting trees, roughly 15,000 says Hantz as abandoned land should be returned to the city to generate the taxes from it. Mayor and city councils have shown support for this proposal, but residents are not particularly in favor. Some believe it would suspend growth of the city rather than encourage it. The city has agreed to sell land to Hantz Farms, as their agreement is to maintain it with a $5 million investment.

For the city it can be see as a way to reinvent itself. Commercial farming, however has only been viewed short-term. None of the city officials feel as though it would become a long-term investment. The extended plan would be for a green-market economy. Of fresh food grocery stores and supermarkets.

With Detroit losing over "25 percent of its population within the last decade" and gaining 139 square miles of vacancy the city is within open arms to taking the help that is needed.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/vast-land-deal-divides-de...