Preservation ReFARM Cities could pass laws that require shrinking less densely populated areas, and recognize that not every building needs to be preserved. Sometimes a nice field is better than a strip of old historic, vacant buildings. If a building isn’t saved and revitalized to meet density and activity guidelines within seven years, it would be bulldozed and made into farmland as part of eminent domain. For homeless people living on vacated land, cities could build bunk houses for those future farmers; they would work on the farm to receive food and shelter. The lifestyle could become so desirable that working citizens and students might take a sabbatical on this kibbutz-style farm.
This is part 38 of a continuing brainstorm on the future of cities, inaugurated at the CEOs for CitiesVelocity conference in September, 2009. We’ll post a new idea each day until we run out, at which point we’re counting on you to come up with something smart. Do you have a good idea for improving your city? Add it in the comments below, or tweet it to @GOOD with hashtag #cityideas—we’ll publish the best ones. Tomorrow's idea: Media Reform.
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