Urban Non-Renewal In Flint, Michigan; Shut down neighbourhoods filled with abandoned homes...

[Purveyor]

Here's a novel idea: Shut down neighbourhoods filled with abandoned homes and businesses, cut off services and bulldoze what's left.

It's no more than an off-the-cuff remark by the "temporary mayor" of Flint, Michigan, ground zero for post-industrial decay in the crumbling home of the auto industry.

But why not?

The Flint Journal reports:

City Council President Jim Ananich said the idea has been on his radar for years.

The city is getting smaller and should downsize its services accordingly by asking people to leave sparsely populated areas, he said.

"It's going to happen whether we like it or not," he said. "We'd have to be creative about it, but it's something worth looking into. We're not there yet, but it could definitely happen."

MORE...

NATIONAL POST: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/04/01/urban-non-renewal-in-flint-michigan.aspx

[StreetKnowledge]

1. There may be some good ideas to this......

Think about it. How many of those places are fire traps, full of rodents or filled with drug dealers and junkies?

Perhaps bulldozing them might be better, ya know?

[pnutbutr]

2. maybe turn it into a state park area

or build factories for new jobs or farmland or any number of things that will actually help the community.

[geegollygosh]

3. why not?

....because people live there...? Perhaps not enough to completely stop the debate, but certainly a reason nonetheless.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. The idea is that those remaining would be offered money to relocate

That's a pretty typical urban renewal strategy, which doesn't take into consideration whether those remaining have strong senses of community and prefer to stay in place. In my experience the money offered sounds good but usually is just enough for people to move to other low income areas where they may have no social networks. For some that doesn't matter, for others that's a huge loss.

[geegollygosh]

5. I know, but money isn't all of the equation. Which I realize you said, also