Detroit Gives Go-Ahead to Controversial Urban Farm Project

After four years of negotiations with the city, and vocal public opposition, plans by Detroit to sell 1,500 city-owned plots for $520,000 to John Hantz for the creation of his ambitious "Hantz Woodlands" project were narrowly approved by the City Council this week, reports Steve Pardo. The first phases of the project will see the demolition of structures, removal of trash, and title work (at a cost of $3.2 million) and the planting of at least 15,000 trees that "would eventually be used for commercial purposes" once the city passes an urban agriculture ordinance.

Although Mayor Dave Bing "said the project is in line with his vision of transforming vacant and underutilized parcels," Pardo notes that, "[f]oes have questioned the sale price, accused Hantz of getting special treatment and questioned the wisdom of allowing one firm to own so much land."

According to Susie Cagle, writing in Grist, the supposedly "vacant" land may not be deserted after all: "In These Times reports that about 100 people still live in the areas that Hantz plans to demolish, clean, and plant full of trees by next spring."

Despite opposition to the Hantz project, "Detroit’s community garden and urban farming scene is positively blooming, and it stands to grow even more in 2013," says Cagle. "Last week, the city’s Planning Commission approved a new zoning ordinance that would officially recognize the city’s gardens and farms, as well as create new ways forward for creating larger farms and reusing vacant buildings. The new rules would also allow for sale of the goods and produce grown. The City Council will vote on the new rules in January."