Where subdivisions were rising, now farms appear
At the Garrett's Chance subdivision in southern Prince George's County, Maryland, only two lots ended up being developed. The housing bust is for real. The subdivision is now being used to store hay, not exactly what the developer intended. The Washington Post says that since the end of the housing boom, an emerging generation of farmers has been buying, at cheap prices, some of the land that once seemed destined to hold new houses. Last year, one unharvested piece of land became Prince George's only dairy farm. People at the suburban-rural edge may have to get used to the sounds of roosters and pigs.
For more in-depth coverage:
• Subscribe to Better! Cities & Towns to read all of the articles (print+online) on implementation of greener, stronger, cities and towns.
• See the June 2012 issue of Better! Cities & Towns.Topics: Michigan placemaking initiative, Affordable housing around transit, Unnoticed New Urbanism, Housing pressures in Massachusetts city, LA looks at displacement, Waiting for the recovery, Running bike-share, Homeownership and TND, Live-work planning, the Great Inversion, Freeway teardown.
• Get New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, packed with more than 800 informative photos, plans, tables, and other illustrations, this book is the best single guide to implementing better cities and towns.
