Quote Originally Posted by Cliffy View Post
Isn't this guy basically just sitting on land and calling it a tree farm and hoping that one day people might actually want to live there so he can develop it. You have to be a dope to volunteer for this clown.
Funny you mention that. Out here on my side of town, you've got the area just north of I-75 from Cass through Woodward where the new hockey arena and adjoining development will be built.

But you've got a handful [[or more) landowners in the area that are holding on to decrepit, blighted buildings that are unsafe inside and out. They're ugly to look at, attract unsavory characters, and all but eliminate "walkability" between downtown/brush park and midtown.

They've been holding onto those properties for a decade or more. And, frankly, if someone was willing to tear them all down and plant trees, I think we all would have been better off.

I tire of hearing of "land grabs". You know what the 2nd most worthless thing in Detroit is? Vacant land. What's the most worthless? Blighted homes which require demolition to become vacant land.

You'll notice in all the bankruptcy proceedings, no one is running around yelling, "Detroit, you're the largest land owner in the city! Why don't you sell off some of that land and pay pensioners with proceeds?"

Why? Because vacant land -- especially in Detroit -- is essentially worthless until someone develops it.

Hell, I wouldn't have a problem with giving away every piece of blighted property for $1 to any developer who agrees to demolish the property or rehabilitate it within 6 months.

The fact that the neighbors in the area are excited is a good sign. And, yes, I hope he makes money. If he makes money, then it will send a signal to other investors that it's safe to invest their money, and we can repeat the process and brighten up another neighborhood.

I get the natural revulsion toward people [[i.e. Moroun) who make money by taking away opportunity from others. But there are businesses that make money and add opportunity for others. This is one of them. A neighborhood looks a little brighter, the streets are a little safer, and someone fronted all the demolition costs to get it done on their own dime.

Win, win, win.

For the rest of you that have been reading a little too much of the World Socialist News [[http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014.../hant-j22.html), I encourage you to enjoy your stay in imaginary-ville and am happy to welcome you back into the real world whenever you're ready to join us again.