Land Lines October 2014
Hidden City
More than one million people are living in apartments underground in Beijing. These small, often windowless dwellings are, for many workers, the only affordable housing option near jobs in the city center. The author examines this low-income rental housing submarket.
Will a Greenbelt Help to Shrink Detroit’s Wasteland?
The first installment in a two-part series, this article outlines the fiscal causes and repercussions of Detroit’s surplus of vacant, publicly held property, and considers the prospect of reclaiming some parcels as open space.
This issue explores the dynamics of Beijing’s low-income rental housing market; a vision to revitalize Detroit by reclaiming vacant, blighted parcels for public use and open space; and the critical need for investments in functioning sewage systems and other basic infrastructure to manage Brazil’s rapid population growth.