Urban Green Uses: The New Renewal

Abstract

After decades in which rapid growth was the planning challenge that grabbed the headlines, we find ourselves at a time when cities across the nation—including many that were growth hot spots even a few years ago—are confronting a different reality. Instead of worrying about how to make growth better or smarter, many cities wonder whether they will see much growth at all. The mortgage crisis and associated collapse of the housing boom has left unfinished projects and excess housing capacity in cities across the nation. In this changed environment, the Rust Belt cities of the Northeast and Midwest find that they have important lessons and guidance to offer. Cities like Cleveland, Detroit, Youngstown, and others have experienced decades-long population decline that has opened great gaps in urban land use; these cities now are leading the way in innovative reuse that has been called “Re-Imagining,” “Cities in Transition,” “Smart Shrinkage” or (perhaps less appealing) “Smart Decline.” The common thread: these cities try to build on their strengths for focused, targeted economic development in key areas, while adopting an array of innovative green uses for vacant and surplus land as a new way to revitalize the city and serve its residents. These green resources include urban agriculture, community green spaces, alternative energy, and green infrastructure. Perhaps we should call this the “New Renewal.”