Transforming Vacancy

Abstract

Urban vacancy is a continuing problem in many cities across the nation. Vacant lots greening helps improve neighborhood conditions and the opportunity to transfer vacant lots into valuable space in the neighborhood where the residents benefit from. Although the urban vacancy issue is not new to the world, with the world trend toward urbanization, many cities are working on vacancies. For decades, economic decline, especially in the heavy industry cities such as Detroit. The vacancy impacts the city, which lost 65% of its population. But many successful projects have been done across the city, such as Fitzgerald neighborhood.

The research builds on two main questions how vacant lot can reconnect people back through designing new greenspaces? Two, how can the residents benefit from the empty lands next door? The idea is to creatively reuse vacant lots and repurpose them into neighborhood assets. The overall methodology of the thesis is through mapping, interview, and data analysis of the neighborhood. Studying the resident's social life and understanding how the vacant lots affect their daily lives.

This report identifies four primary goals for reusing vacant lots in the Midwest neighborhood through the process of work, precedents studies, and literature review. The first goal is to create a Sustainable & Productive Landscape in the neighborhood by promoting food garden production. Goal two is to improve the residents' quality of life by using Vacant lots As a Platform for Education and skill-building. Goal three is to create a safe and activated open space in the neighborhood by designing for visibility. Finally, to create a healthy neighborhood by providing equal access to the public. Each of these goals is accompanied by a number of recommendations that highlight strategies for reusing vacant lots into community assets. This