One of the most in-depth explorations of that question — or at least of one of the largest proponents of large-scale farming in Motown, appears in this month’s Fortune Magazine. An excerpt…
Yes, a farm. A large-scale, for-profit agricultural enterprise, wholly contained within the city limits of Detroit. (Stockbroker John) Hantz thinks farming could do his city a lot of good: restore big chunks of tax-delinquent, resource-draining urban blight to pastoral productivity; provide decent jobs with benefits; supply local markets and restaurants with fresh produce; attract tourists from all over the world; and — most important of all — stimulate development around the edges as the local land market tilts from stultifying abundance to something more like scarcity and investors move in. Hantz is willing to commit $30 million to the project. He’ll start with a pilot program this spring involving up to 50 acres on Detroit’s east side. “Out of the gates,” he says, “it’ll be the largest urban farm in the world.”
This is possibly not as crazy as it sounds. Granted, the notion of devoting valuable city land to agriculture would be unfathomable in New York, London, or Tokyo. But Detroit is a special case. The city that was once the fourth largest in the country and served as a symbol of America’s industrial might has lately assumed a new role: North American poster child for the global phenomenon of shrinking postindustrial cities.
3 Comments
I have said this before myself. I like this idea. As long as it’s put in the hands of private industry.
Only someone with absolutely no experience in farming would appreciate this idea. Growing tomatoes on the vacant lot next door is not farming. But never underestimate what ignorant people with a seemingly unlimited supply of someone else’s money might try to do.
Very interesting concept…
This would work well for crops like hay, corn or soybeans. Agreed that you have to have it in the hands of private enterprise, since there are inherent risks with crop farming that municipalities just aren’t built to handle.
Some problems that could come up:
- contaminated soil; who cleans it up?
- would there be restrictions on spraying weed control or fertilizer since there could be residential areas nearby?
- there’s no agricultural infrastructure present (tractor repair shops, grain storage and transport, etc.)
Still a very interesting idea.