Ghost towns of the 21st century
Think the idea of using robots to eat up the suburbs sounds far-fetched? Apparently, there's already a need for such an invention arising in many shrinking towns across the Midwest. With much of America's industry continuing to move overseas, once great cities like Youngstown, OH, are having to come up with innovative ways to deal with the city's miraculous population exodus. One of the primary ways that Youngstown is dealing with its deflation is strategically demolishing sections of the city and turning them into "green spaces." Parks and greenbelts now sit where there was once an abandoned cul de sac. As part of their 2010 initiative, the city monitors low density areas. When only a couple of homes on a block remain inhabited, the city offers residents grant to move. This allows them to cut back on city services like garbage -- eventually bulldozing the entire block.
10 Cleanest Cities in America:
The strange approach that Youngstown's city leaders have adopted, i.e. embracing shrinkage, has made it a model for cities in the 'Rust Belt.' At its peak, Youngtown's population hovered around 165,000, but the economy was based on industry like steel mills. With the closing of almost all the factory jobs, the population has slid to 80,000. That's a lot of empty neighborhoods.
The goal of the 2010 project is to streamline what's left of the city and attract a new class of citizens by offering an updated city plan -- including large green spaces, low overhead, and the ability to find housing near your work. Maybe they should install comprehensive bike-ways, that would really set them apart.
It's Energy Independence Day! 
Green Your 4th of July Celebration
The Importance of Pollination - It's Not Just Bee Sex
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-14-2008 @ 4:38PM
Phil L. said...
As one who grew up near Youngstown (my grandfather worked 30+ years at Youngstown Sheet & Tube), I watched the area decline as a child - and knew I'd have to leave.
I appreciate their forward-thinking view of the city: No, the mill isn't going to open again. No, those houses aren't going to fill up. Deal with it and move on.
The bike paths are a neat idea - but you'd need to build them first - and hope people come; a risky proposition when appropriating funds. While I haven't been in the city in years, I believe most of the economic activity today is happening in what were the suburbs around Youngstown (Boardman, Austintown, etc.). Bike paths presume a vibrant downtown where people want to live; places to work and play. Sadly, that's currently missing from the mix.
Reply
4-14-2008 @ 9:54PM
JL Mealer said...
Big Oil means HUGE government profit from Oil TAXES. That is why the auto-manufacturers will never built a perto free vehicle until MAMC!
Their vehicles will be obsolete in a few years.
The world needs American built MAMC to lead the way with non fossil fuel full sized vehicle power.
We have it, so watch for a change in today's auto manufacturer's poor excuse for transportation.
Our plan works and we boost the world's economy by boosting output of the USA.
"A Stronger America is a Stronger World, Own a Piece of What Matters Most"
http://www.betterconstructed.com
John Lewis Mealer
Reply
4-16-2008 @ 11:12AM
Jonathon Morgan said...
I wonder when larger cities -- like Cleveland (where I grew up) and Detroit, for instance -- will deal with the same problems. It'd be amazing if they re-imagined those huge urban (but often decaying) landscapes with larger green spaces.
Reply