OpenIDEO - How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline? - Inspiration

The Challenge

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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?

Inspiration 894 inspirations

Concepting 329 concepts

Applause 329 final concepts

Refinement 20 final concepts

Evaluation 20 final concepts

Winning Concepts Announced!

Realisation Ongoing

Congratulationsto all our contributors!

Mission #1

Explore Vibrancy

Share your definition of what vibrancy looks like where you live. Find out more...

Mission #2

Share Stories

Tell us about the cities and communities you know are currently struggling or in the process of revitalising.

Mission #3

Get Active

Take some time to get active and explore your own community – then report back what you learned. Find out more...

Mission #4

Collect Insights

Interview someone living in a struggling city or region to learn more. Find out more...

Mission #5

Surprise Us

Got an Inspiration that doesn't fit the other Missions? Find out more...

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Mission #2 Share Stories

Grown in Detroit

An initiative already blossoming in Detroit - reclaiming some of the abandoned land for community gardens.

This incredible, truely grass-roots movement already taking place in Detroit takes advantage of quite a rare opportunity (accessible urban real estate) to promote local produce, a sense of community and good heath. What started as a garden in an abandoned adjacent lot has caught the attention and support of not only the wider community, but local municipalities, global NGOs, and the US government.

Problem is, as the scale of these projects grow beyond a few plants in a carpark, serious questions of civil engineering are raised. If this idea is as good as it looks, how do we get around the many potential pitfalls of inner-city farming?

More at http://www.urbanfarming.org/

Mission #2 Share Stories

Comments

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Kyra Kaszynski

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November 16, 2011, 10:47PM

I don't have answers to the civil engineering challenges, but I would like to see farming really scale in an urban setting and perhaps evolve into a revitalization process for cities around the world. In places like the US, urban farms can provide organic and localvore foods that many urbanites and chefs are willing to pay premium prices for. In other countries with weaker infrastructures, bringing food production closer to larger populations struggling with hunger seems only logical. Many hurdles, for sure, but seems like positive use of cheap land and a way to sustain a community and create jobs with an entirely new indsutry. I wonder would it eventually attract the packaged food industry? If they can make sauce from the tomatos grown next door and reduce supply chain costs, would that facilitate a cycle of larger growth for a city?

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Meena Kadri

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November 14, 2011, 05:37AM

I watched this recently and it gives great insight to the positive strides being made in Detroit. Folks who are keen to watch the whole thing can download it here for a donation: http://www.grownindetroitmovie.com/

Great question you've raised here, Charl – one that hopefully will inspire others as we approach the upcoming Concepting phase. Tip: to activate links in your post, hit the Update Entry button up there on the right, then follow the instructions here: http://bit.ly/oi_link

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Charl Laubscher's reply to Kyra Kaszynski's comment

Charl Laubscher

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November 16, 2011, 10:22PM

Cheers, Meena.

If nothing else I think this project shows initiative, and demonstrates the power and capacity of social momentum. It's amazing what people can come up with when 1) pushed out of their comfort zone and 2) encouraged by those around them. Plus, as you say, it's nice to see seeds are already being sown.

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