Urban Harvest

For urban agriculture to work, we’ll need to stop talking about it in utopian terms. Instead, let’s talk about money.

Governing, August 2009

The Man Who Owns Flint

Michigan’s most depressed auto town is full of vacant buildings. One local official has made their redevelopment his personal crusade.

Governing, January 2008

Plus: my interview with Dan Kildee, the treasurer of Genesee County.

Shrink Rap

It’s easier to think about downsizing an imaginary post-industrial city than a real one.

Governing, November 2007

Smart Decline

Youngstown has lost more than half its population. Those people aren’t coming back. But shrinking doesn’t have to mean dying.

Governing, November 2006

Plus: My photo essay on Youngstown, and interviews with Mayor Jay Williams and urban planner Hunter Morrison.

UPDATE: New York Times Magazine includes “creative shrinkage” in its 2006 Year in Ideas issue. Now where did they read about that?