As part of PBS’s “Blueprint America,” Dan Kildee, president of the Center for Community Progress, discusses the benefits of the survival of “shrinking cities” within a national perspective. He uses his past experiences in Flint, Michigan to explain the ways in which post-industrial cities are able to reposition themselves through a land bank model.
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In 2008, the EPA provided technical assistance to several cities to promote environmental sustainability at local brownfields projects. Assistance improves the environmental performance/sustainability of assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. The pilot assistance also encourages initiatives such as energy efficient and affordable housing, reuse and recycling of construction materials, establishment and maintenance of community green roofs, development
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The EPA selected 23 communities to receive up to $175,000.00 in grant funding and/or technical assistance to develop an area-wide plan for the assessment, cleanup, and reuse of brownfields. The program will help under-served and economically disadvantaged communities by confronting brownfield-related public health and environmental issues and, thus, creating opportunities for economic development and job
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The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society published “Reclaiming Vacant Lots: A Philadelphia Green Guide.” The document outlines a strategy for vacant land reclamation, site control – determining the land owner and how that ownership determines the reclamation strategy, site assessment guides, site design elements and options, site preparation – cleaning, grading, and soil preparation, tree planting and
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The Detroit Vacant Property Campaign (DVPC) is an initiative of Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation and is committed to the revitalization of Detroit. The DVPC builds a coalition of non-profit organizations, community groups, business leaders, and government officials to more effectively approach the city’s vacant property concerns. The organization educates homeowners about foreclosures to avoid
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