This Tree Farm Is Bringing Life Back To Detroit’s East Side | NBC Nightly News

In Reviving Detroit Part 3, over 2,000 abandoned lots have been refurbished on Detroit’s east side, making way for 25,000 trees. Hantz Woodlands is working to revitalize 140 acres in the community by converting its vacant parcels into tree nurseries with hopes of creating livable neighborhoods.
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This Tree Farm Is Bringing Life Back To Detroit’s East Side | NBC Nightly News

[@cpodurnell3701]

That was once a beautiful neighborhood; my family roots are there, my family owned a bar and lived above it. In the 90s my grandfather was about to tears driving through where he once lived in the 1950s. Detroit's story is different depending on who you ask and what perspecti a you seen it from. Glad to see it getting a little better.

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

*Brilliant solution to the serous issue.* In other places, the empty lots just get filled up with fences, trash and dirt. This company could also get a cheap lease, grow seasonal cash crops and move fertile soil, when somebody wants to buy the land. Many cities would love to have a positive company like that one. They would benefit from the farm-lease and clean-up.

[@VinceroAlpha]

It's refreshing to see people from Detroit come up with new ideas to solve big problems that no one else can't seem to. There treating it like one giant incubator for new businesses and projects to take root, I wish them all the best.

[@sagisli]

I really hope Detroit can save itself. The tree farm is beautiful. It will bring back a sense of hope and renewal. Wonderful story.

[@Candyman97]

In 1947 Detroit had the highest standard of living of any place in the world. You could write volumes on what caused the fall of Detroit.

[@jeffmorse645]

Pittsburgh de-industrialized and it doesn't look like Detroit. The plain fact of the matter is that white people don't want to live around black people or send their kids to school with them. Force them to via desegregation and they will pack up and leave.

[@iamchillydogg]

I can explain it in one word, liberals.

[@danielanderson2324]

@@iamchillydogg Coleman Young.

[@CamAlert2]

@@jeffmorse645 the same could be said the other way. humans segregate themselves because we like to be around people more like us, whether its race, religion or wealth. it's just a fact of life you have to deal with.

[@Killgore-ip2yq]

@@danielanderson2324 General motors pulling out of the city was the big thing.

[@IITECHxNiNEII]

If there is one thing I've learned in my rough times and rebuilding life, its this. A new start my not be a fresh start but its the beginning of change, a Change you can build into your new fresh start. Even then It may not be the start you want but its better than a complete stall. I think this program shows progress. Hope it helps Detroit rebuild.

[@georgeclifton5684]

This is awesome. I'm a parks/landscape guy. Way to think outside the box. I live in the L.A./O.C. area. Can see a future in this. 👍

[@greyziedaddy9853]

Santa ana!

[@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia]

George Clifton agree. Sad to say LA and San Francisco has no hope and only getting worse. Skid rod especially

[@40intrek]

@@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia . There's always hope.. Takes a while for a tree to grow, but not that long to plant it.. Hmmmm, skid row?? Complicated but there is always hope..

[@goofyfoot2001]

LA/OC has zero future.

[@jeffmorse645]

It won't happen in California because there's no need. The land and real estate even in poor neighborhoods is too valuable.

[@bettyslawinski8265]

A true detroiter loves this💛🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@mediamattersismycockholste562]

something to hide behind to avoid bullets, yep!

[@enargins]

This piece never explained how the business model works. Are they selling the trees once they reach a certain height? Are they getting donations for the trees, and the trees will be permanent? A little explanation of how the finances work would've been helpful.

[@JohnSmith-zf4wp]

I thought I was the only one who watch this, and keep asking why is it a farm and if home owners of the few remaining homes stay there how is that going to work with a forest next to their homes and if someone or land developers wanted to develop the land, does that mean cutting down those trees and discarding them, then why plant the trees?

[@BaronVonSTFU]

Detroit is in a unique situation to rebuild its city in a brand new way. It has the space to do it. It just needs imaginative people like this to make it happen. Make Detroit a shining example of modern city planning and revitalization!

[@kalillita]

That's a great Idea...

[@loritouma9767]

Beautiful, i love it!!! Trees are beautiful. Great job! 🌳🌳🌳🌳🍁🍂

[@SonicPhonic]

Great concept and success in Detroit! Progressive thinking and hard work working together to drastically improve a nearly dead city.

[@avg_tatetopian7978]

If they turn the neighborhoods into a forest and farms then most of the city except mid and downtown will be green

[@mistermood4164]

sounds great to me

[@garrettparker9725]

This is absolutely fantastic!

[@johnpenley]

Thats my neighborhood!! 🤗

[@rubyoro0]

John Penley Is this close to Chandler park?

[@johnpenley]

@@rubyoro0 not super far...its actually closer to Belle Isle and the Riverfront.

[@johnpenley]

@@ajslade813 troll.

[@BigJProductions]

the cheek of that city hall worker! so arrogant. "WE REQUIRE THIS..."WE REQUIRE THAT". you would have thought a ruined city that filed for bankruptcy would be a little more humble/grateful!!

[@gonefishing3644]

Now, if someone would set up some tiny house neighborhoods with free wifi where young hipster types could work from home and help contribute to the tax base. And if someone else would turn some abandoned lots into community gardens/allotments for vegetable growing and create a community kitchen for canning the produce so that participating local volunteers could have better/less expensive nutrition.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

That someone is you.

[@skjelver4]

Hipsters, wifi, and vegetable gardens. Gentrified bliss.

[@rubyoro0]

Linda Wright I was offered the next door lot by the Land Authority. I asked tenant if she was interested in having a vegetable garden so I could buy the lot...she never responded.

[@gonefishing3644]

@@rubyoro0 Sadly, lots of people have never created and managed a vegetable garden and would not know where to start. And a lot of impoverished inner city people are not in the habit of eating vegetables other than potatoes -- fresh green salads are just way too expensive even if fresh produce could be found in a nearby corner store. When someone in an inner city or low income suburban neighborhood is willing to teach school children how to grow fresh vegetables in a community garden that they can take home, that does create parental interest in free produce. Once there is interest, then enough adults may be willing to donate their labor in exchange for a portion of future produce. But changing the food habits of impoverished people is not easy, even when it leads to a healthier and less expensive diet.

[@rubyoro0]

Ekim Nonot Yes Detroit people need to be smarter and plant fruit trees. They can use that money to pay off the high property taxes. Oh what I would give to be able to purchase my next door lot for pennies here in California. Meanwhile I’m planting in containers :( - Detroitians wake up!!

[@fillup40]

Great program.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Yes, it looks like it has a purpose but what is the purpose -- are they selling the trees, are they giving away the trees, what is the purpose of the trees other than what do trees do naturally?

[@oldtwinsna8347]

It's a farm so it would be harvested and sold. Alternatively, if economic conditions change in that area (not very likely anytime soon), a developer will pay the value of the land based upon the current states of the resources (trees) on the property. The government could also buy the land at market rate and set aside for conservation land. Either way it goes, it's better than letting the land sit and rot with visual blight.

[@kayzeaza]

Did you even watch the video?

[@mattkennedy6115]

I think Detroit has potential to come back after more projects like this happen and more of the criminal element leaves

[@fancybrooks3156]

@@oldtwinsna8347 The government already owns the land. It is part of the land bank.

[@TheUserid82]

Truck taxi a tree farm uses trees that are ready to harvest in 10-20 years and generally used for paper or OSB. You divide the area into a number of plots to have one being harvest at the same time one is being planted so you end up with continual work. You are a know distance from who you are selling the logs/chips to so you know how much you will get including transportation costs. You have flat ground so easy harvesting so less risk to the cutting crew if they don't use a machine to do it. It is also a type of farm that if they go bankrupt nothing needs to be done to protect the land as it is just trees that will keep growing without any human input.

[@Gravyballs2011]

Years ago, I sent a card to the mayor of Flint (at the time,Dayne Walling) mentioning the many benefits of planting tens of thousands of trees throughout the city especially in the areas with the most blight and neglect. Once upon a time, before cities, we had natural areas and woodlands. My idea didn't get a response.

[@rustyrelicsfarm2406]

Amazing for the environment

[@tamallen3520]

👍great work wish More people did this kind of work

[@sexymonkey4979]

I will love to live there in five years the trees will be beautiful

[@mediamattersismycockholste562]

and thick enough to hide behind to avoid the locals trying to shoot or murder you.

[@Mutlap]

5 to 10 years those trees will be 30 feet high and the field could be considered a woods

[@cerwyddi]

Now you need to take a small portion and grow food that will help feed the neighbors

[@PiousMoltar]

I, for one, like this new green Detroit.

[@iamchillydogg]

Detroit needs to shrink, the empty buildings demolished and the land left to go wild.

[@tim18846]

This is awesome

[@PaulFerzoco]

Brilliant idea.

[@cairnsandy1]

wonderfull.............

[@macbuff81]

bringing trees back...very good idea

[@adambussert6298]

Grow landscaping type trees and shrubs. That will be a good investment. Black walnut too, if it grows there.

[@JM-hl2gy]

Good for the people and the planet.

[@caminojohn3240]

I'm assuming that either these trees will be either dug up as transplants or ultimately harvested for pulp or lumber. Either way you are creating productive uses for the land.

[@MrBoliao98]

I think it's simply a better idea. If there are no people, and so much empty land, grow crops. Don't move, find income and make your community better.

[@jannhebrank8410]

You could have used them for planting the tires I mean

[@samuelnelson9010]

I wanna do that!

[@___-yy8ud]

Is this just a civil society organisation or a business? Are they selling the trees?

[@throttleblip1]

The city-owned 1500 properties in one mile yep that looks like the Detroit that I remember when I first moved here

[@sarcasmo57]

It's a great idea.

[@leem9886]

Time to start buying land in Detroit....

[@ninastone9054]

Should have been bought land in Detroit. You're late.

[@jasonlawrence2143]

More like Flint my dude!

[@robandmike100]

Ray Anderson and his ministry is very concerned about our neighborhood. To support him / them would be one of the best investments for the city. His love for God, family, community and self is to be recognized.. there’s not much funds available to him but I believe he would do so much more community service given the funds to support his goals .. God bless you Ray

[@leifharmsen]

Bravo! There should be a public reforestation program. I'd suggest mainly spruce with a mix of native hardwoods. Be careful not to plant them too close together because almost all will survive. The trees do almost all the work on their own, and they're solar powered!

[@theghostofteddyperkins3687]

I love what Kevin Costner is doing to help Detroit!

[@blastforth]

Its not clear how this generates revenue. Are the trees be dug up and sold for landscaping? Orchards?

[@Y10Q]

yes, but you have to have resources to do it. He is probably making $150 profit per tree.

[@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia]

Why do you have to clean up the tire companies mess?? Hold them accountable

[@RaydivatheWriter]

As much as I agree with the idea, its usually just easier and cheaper to clean up the mess yourself when you agree to something like this. Its part of the bargain to develop the area after all: you have make improvements and upkeep the area. This includes cleaning up the old tires.

[@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia]

RaydivatheWriter clean it up and still hold them accountable though. Plenty of evidence to do so

[@mikebetts2046]

Probably talking about small-time tire dealers scattered around town. Not big corporations that can be tracked and assessed charges.

[@randomvideosn0where]

@@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia It's pretty tough to prove who the tires came from, 1000 tires is probably just some mechanic somewhere dumping them.

[@noahmurray4633]

About time they started knocking down those abandoned lots and homes and do something useful like farms we need this in Camden and philly

[@ThomasGlynnJr]

"...it's a pretty complicated affair" only because government bureaucrats get in the way

[@dieselscience]

*Liberals.

[@mayalaluna4005]

i found this demand from city land bank department is very strange, why you need to mow the grass every 3 weeks when only trees are growing there, what about the running down ugly house next to it, is it something more logical to have a proper demand... sometimes the government is just so doing its "own" job in its own small cubicle.. and maybe the world is really following the rules of the government...

[@thomasdeneazzi6454]

Those trees are about to get clapped now, just watch.

[@displayname1276]

Finally the people of Detroit have completed rehab and kicked the methamphetamine and other drug addictions and gun violence.

[@alextheduke8221]

VERY COOL

[@brenthill3241]

So what crops are taken to market and sold for profit? That wasn't mentioned in this heartwarming fluff piece.

[@xiqueira]

It is a tree farm. They sell......trees. Trees go to market. Not a fluff piece. But some additional knowledge appears to be necessary for some to understand the title.

[@i.m.strandedinsonoma7170]

1:19 - I didn't know Kevin Costner lives in Detroit.

[@MannyDer]

that frame rate gave me a head ache

[@Chicago48]

Lower east side - where? The sidewalks and alleys, streets are in terrible terrible condition. The city needs a lot of infrastructure investment.

[@xiqueira]

The comments shed light on the lack of understanding how positive a business venture this is, about what a tree farm is (the title explains it-tree farm-they are a business and sell trees for landscaping), the inability to listen to the video (people died, no one moved in, houses were empty-NO, people nor minorities destroyed them), how trees aids in air quality, how green spaces help in property values, how active business or resident presence reduces crime, and how a business, like a tree farm, provides jobs and pays taxes both business and property.

[@TheActiveAssault]

Badass

[@syrhi1709]

So... a forrest?

[@vlad8606]

It's still Detroit.

[@LogicalNiko]

Wow Mike Score looks related to Kevin Costner.

[@sheenestevez6710]

Excellent example for the City to consider urban farming to help put healthy food in to the public schools at cost and not for profit.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Zoning, management, liability, logistics, a plan, and willingness. There are very many good ideas now it's time to put it into action. Write up your plan and propose it.

[@Defy_Convention]

Free rolling paper

[@7saany]

I love this but i have questions.. Is this allowed or do you need a permit?

[@alphonsobutlakiv789]

Are the trees for wood, for sale to landscapers, or do they nut?

[@vang1990]

I dont get it. How does planting trees make money. You buy land and plant trees but where is the income coming from?

[@Red.Hot.Chili.Beans63]

I believe they are functioning as a nursery. They will sell the juvenile trees for replanting by home owners, landscapers, or local governments in open spaces. Anyway that's my guess.

[@westkomer5570]

The rich and well off white people buy trees to put in their yards. Lot of money in it.

[@tomservo5007]

money grows on trees, duh

[@patmcnamara9081]

Now there’s an idea whose time has come !

[@jockellis]

Sarah Cobb, did your family come from southeast Georgia, Brantley and Carlton counties?

[@noneyabusiness2237]

Interesting. What if EVERY product purchased had, by law, an ID code on it? So the tire could be traced back to the owner, the junkyard, the garage, the tire retailer. Your property found dumped, cops scan the tires, and you pay, for example a $200 fine per tire, directly removed from your bank account.

[@Danybella]

Kevin Costner is that you?

[@joshuaupham5993]

I hope you start more cash crops on more acres across Detroit.

[@Questchaun]

People should plant trees in empty lots start capturing what co2 we can.

[@jimhaines8370]

Farms instead of falling down houses is better but farms in an area that needs tax revenue to survive not so good in the long run. Some farm counties around here don't want anything to ever get modern like full time fire and rescue and high speed internet so it is a double edged sword.

[@hoosierhiver]

It's a big improvement

[@TheUserid82]

Land bought from the city and even farm taxes paid on it is better then land the city still owns and no taxes are generated.

[@mikebetts2046]

Rural areas do not need the same services as urban areas, so why would farmers want the higher taxes? Fewer people, smaller schools, fewer houses needing fire protection, less crime, etc. It's all proportional.

[@jimhaines8370]

Mike Betts my point is that farm areas are farm areas Detroit needs paying public areas of tax payers because they are tax and spend lefties and urban farmers may tear down abandoned properties but that won’t pay for all the needs you are talking about ever that is why farms get tax breaks and not city lots with houses Detroit has a long way to go to get even to just be a safe area let alone a growing city outside of the downtown area and that will take a lot of cash to do that from some type of urban renewal not just hand out tax gifts from the realest of the country As I said the trees are better than nothing but they need to give responsible people a reason to be their and build and live and pay taxes etc and I don’t see that happening with urban prairies and tree farms

[@chadmasters3935]

Central planners still central planning. Still won't work.

[@tomservo5007]

now the residents of Detroit are fighting AGAINST having trees -- is it because increased home values mean more expensive rents/taxes etc?

[@kanesmith8271]

Yup

[@blahdeblaaah9445]

The City employee says you can't buy the city's property and then sit on it waiting for it to become more valuable, but that is exactly what this company is doing. And most likely they wanted to re-zone the lots to agriculture to pay less property taxes. Hence the trees. These are folks who want to sell the land to developers once it becomes more valuable. He even says they're next step is to improve the schools because they KNOW rich families won't move anywhere unless the schools are good.

[@zed625]

This is the problem with Detroit. They're too focused on communal projects when they should just be focused on jobs. Planting trees is fine but if these people really wanted to help the city they'd be fighting to get rid of dated zoning laws, reduce taxes and stop wasteful spending.

[@ctfinneman]

Do trees survive well on bullet casings?

[@ninastone9054]

They sure can. Trees are tougher than you think Kim jong

[@ninastone9054]

@Existence Is Everything If the environment is conducive, a tree will grow there.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

From rural to urban than back to rural.

[@Cardboardbocs]

the guy sounds like Kevin Costner

[@dieselscience]

I see a LOT of Roundup being used...

[@robertmack929]

REBUILD HISTORIC "LESTUDIO" CANADA YEH!!!!!!EH!

[@mrbrainbob5320]

What?

[@glynthegardener8577]

This is a wasted opportunity. Would have been much better to invest in small to medium food growing farms, with livestock, vegetable and salad growing and fruit trees. That would provide much more employment and more food, which is what people need in Detroit, not trees to harvest in 30 years time.

[@chillydawgg4354]

So go do it

[@hugebigfooted]

Remove the waste, plant trees. I can Dig it

[@nolanlavoie]

It's still chiraq and you can buy a house for less than $200. Must be a great place to live

[@ed9492]

Tell the city managers they can stuff those regulations. Beggars can't be choosers

[@smithterrance459]

Why not just to rebuild new homes to instead planting them?

[@johnquest2268]

Detroit died years ago. This kind of thing is long, long over due.

[@ChakatNightspark]

Think this is what needs to happen to all of Detroit. just tear it all down and Plant Trees. Not have a city of Detroit anymore but. a Forest that could become something. Like a National Park in like a few decades

[@t84t748748t6]

if u rely put some money in it make a new house block move al the lose house to that block and demolish the rest and make a forest than when its starts growing again u just cut down the forest and built again most of those houses look horribel

[@TheDarthEmperor]

These "Tree Farms" will do nothing but provide shelter for criminals. I'd rather see a vacant field that is mowed regularly. Not a scary forest in the hood.

[@jannhebrank8410]

grow food,,ffs

[@annoythefish]

Nice job liberals, those trees are really going to help

[@mediamattersismycockholste562]

How bullet resistant are trees anyway?

[@dieselscience]

Liberals actually opposed this... but they didn't have much choice as the white guy was the only one willing to pay taxes on the property.

[@dawnwalters3913]

yeah, employment for locals, removal of derelict housing, carbon capture, increased civic pride, paying property taxes, maintaining the land and increasing the final value of the land while also being a profitable business selling trees to landscaping and development companies. I can't agree with you more on this one

[@buddyanddaisy123]

The biggest problem with Detroit is the city government.get an honest, intelligent (i.e. non-corrupt government), and Detroit could boom again. Don't believe me? Singapore in the 1950s was one of the dirtiest, most corrupt cities in Asia-now it has one of the best economies in the world.

[@realistmw]

Just a ploy to gentrify

[@TikiShootah]

Detroit isnt lacking in trees, its the dilapidated and Chernobyl looking neighborhoods thats the problem.

[@Bucks7542]

TikiShootah Chernobyl is nicer

[@edgewood99]

Tear downs and cleanups...ok. Tree farms? They don't like the tree farms I'm used to. Oh well.

[@BrackenCechir]

Oh God what is this framerate

[@robertlara6250]

Well atleast they cant spin this story and make this fake news .

[@mediamattersismycockholste562]

or! look up "Colin Flaherty" and you'll see what they OMITTED..