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LASN December 2011 Editorial Commentary: What is the Red Fields to Green Fields National Research Program?12-09-11 | News

What is the Red Fields to Green Fields National Research Program?

Commentary by LASN Editor Stephen Kelly

The Red Fields to Green Fields National Research Program has analyzed converting distressed commercial real estate like these factories in Detroit (?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Red Fields to Green Fields National Research Program rftgf.org/joomla/ is an effort to evaluate the impact of converting unsued/vacant properties/buildings (?EUR??,,????'?????<

The program is led by Georgia Tech Research Institute, the City Parks Alliance and sponsored by the Speedwell Foundation. The program has conducted studies in 11 U.S. cities with the support of 14 universities, nonprofits, and local, state and federal agencies to calculate the extent of each city?EUR??,,????'?????<

We don?EUR??,,????'?????<

Atlanta
According to the study, Atlanta was the No. 1 market for single-family home construction from 2000 to 2005. Now, it is No. 1 in the nation in bank failures. The city has lost 27,800 jobs in construction and building services, and has 24 million square feet of vacant office space, i.e., ?EUR??,,????'?????<

On the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Detroit
Okay, Detroit is an ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The mayor and city officials are trying to ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Red Fields to Green Fields program asserts investments could help expand the activity beyond downtown and develop some 70 miles of greenways and bikeways around the central city. Large industrial sites could be revived, creating jobs for low-skill workers. The program estimates it would take about a $4 billion investment to help reclaim 9,000 acres.

Whence the Money and Manpower?
Where?EUR??,,????'?????<

Here?EUR??,,????'?????<

Let?EUR??,,????'?????<

M????????(C)decins Sans Fronti???????oeres (Doctors without Boundaries) is an international organization of health professionals who volunteer their time and professional skills to bring medical and technical assistance to people who do not have basic health care, clean water and shelter. These doctors go ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Let Iraqis take care of Iraq; let Afghans take care of Afghanistan. Let the people of the U.S. take care of its people and its cities. Let?EUR??,,????'?????<

Why aren?EUR??,,????'?????<

Source: ?EUR??,,????'?????<