Imagine a city with open space larger than the size of Paris, where people are planting hardwood trees and vegetable gardens,
and
neighbors have plenty of room to spread out. It would sound so idyllic,
if only it weren’t Detroit. The open space is largely
abandoned
land, the lack of neighbors the result of an inexorable exodus, the
planting the work of residents striving to stop the
blight from
spreading. America loves a big comeback, but Detroiters harbor few
illusions. For many here, it's about salvaging what
remains of a
once-great city. Throughout its long decline, Detroit has sought ways to
restore to its former glory a city that was home
to 1.8 million people, pinning its hopes on grandiose plans for the automotive industry or casinos.