Urban Farm

Design Theme Description

Detroit and many other urban areas are beset with the paired problems of urban decline and suburban sprawl. These phenomena are directly linked to each other. Detroit has faced an on-going exodus from the city, one that was once a vital center of industry, in particular the automobile industry. Population loss means revenue loss, less ability to deliver services and lower quality of life.  Urban areas often lack access to high quality food and produce. One strategy to address this problem is the development of urban farms. The availability of open land in Detroit offers a possibility to address the food disparity. The conversion of open land in this project to productive use will contribute to revitalization of the city and the community.  Unlike the urban renewal strategies of the mid-20th century that called for razing vast areas, new construction may be intertwined with existing structures. This project proposes a strategy of knitting and weaving, rather than clean-slate development.