The idea of plowing under parts of Detroit and converting them into truck farms that would produce wholesome veggies for the remaining inhabitants of the erstwile Motor City has been kicked around for a while, and we have written about it in the past. Now it looks like they are taking a shot at doing it. The Detroit News reports that the Detroit City Council has approved the sale of a 140-acre tract of land to a private party who intends to demolish remaining houses, clear the land, and convert it into tree farm at a projected cost of $3.2 million. The price paid to the city is $520,000. See Steve Pardo,140 Acres in Detroit Sold to Grow Trees, Detroit News, December 12, 2012.
The subject land is still occupied by some 100 people, presumably squatters, since nothing was said about acquiring the land by eminent domain.
We’ll just have to wait and see how it turns out.