On May 10th, at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon, Mike Score President of Hantz Group Farm Detroit (Hantz Woodlands) was the speaker.
John said, "Detroit neighborhoods have been in a downward spiral defined by expanding blight since the 1960's." John Hantz, long time Detroit resident and CEO of the Hantz Group, approached city government in 2008 with a proposal to revitalize neighborhoods using the skills and resources of Hantz Group employees to establish a large farm. The desired outcome was cleaner, safer neighborhoods, improved property values, a rekindled local economy, and improved schools.
The mission behind our investment is truly livable neighborhoods.
The mission behind our investment is truly livable neighborhoods.
What the Hantz Group Farm Detroit (Hantz Woodlands) has done:
- Removing Blight: Hantz Farms Detroit has worked with neighbors and sponsors to clear brush, weeds, and debris from more than 2,000 parcels within one square mile.
- Demolishing Abandoned Structures: Abandoned structures attract illegal dumping, and are a source of danger within Detroit neighborhoods. Hantz Farms Detroit has invested more than $1 million to remove 62 dangerous structures from the landscape.
- Planting Trees: Lots that were once defined by nuisance trees like mulberry and box elder have been improved with managed plantings of oak, maple, birch, and poplar. Volunteers have partnered with Hantz Farms Detroit to plant 25,000 trees in evenly spaced rows.
- Entrepreneurship Training: Moving beyond neighborhood beautification, Hantz Farms Detroit is working in partnership with neighborhood schools and sponsors to help students explore entrepreneurship.
- Vocational Training: Hantz Farms Detroit and Hantz Foundation works with sponsors to create hands-on learning experience in professional trades.
- Educational Services: Hantz Farms Detroit is available to participate in education and consulting work that assists leaders in expanding and improving urban agriculture as a new commercial sector within urban economies.
Click Hantz Farms Detroit for More Information.
