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Blight into Beauty in San Francisco

Posted by: Alek Miller
Thanks to: Alek Miller
7 September 2009 - 9:00am

At a time when developers are having trouble getting loans to build, San Francisco is taking steps to improve empty lots with art, retail, and other temporary investments in neighborhood vitality until construction can resume.

"The idea of short-term use makes private developers nervous because of liability issues, or concerns that they might have trouble building on land after it has been landscaped or gardened.

'We see it as an economic development activity,' said Rich Hillis of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development. 'If there's something exciting on those sites, it helps bring more interest and foot traffic.'"

Full Story: Efforts to turn empty lots to a glass half full
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, September 2, 2009
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Short of erasing existing political and jurisdictional boundaries, citizens and officials need to develop the capacity to work across boundaries according to the "problem-sheds" of the land and water issues we face in the 21st century.
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