Next American City is carrying a very interesting story about Cleveland’s battle to return vacant land to productive use.

A collection of foundations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private citizens are collaborating to return agriculture to the city. What’s unique about Cleveland’s efforts, however, is the level or coordination and the overarching vision for a greener, more cohesive neighborhoods, according to the article.

The process has been dubbed, Reimagining a More Sustainable Cleveland and it has the support of the mayor, the state government and a handfull of well endowed foundations.

“We’re talking about pushing people together into dense urban nodes,” said Terry Schwarz, interim director of the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. “We’re coming up with a way of managing the landscape enough so it looks like an intentional wildlife corridor. It makes the spot where development occurs obvious.”

Cleveland Urban Farmer Maurice Small owns a small farm in Tremont. Photo via Plain Dealer, www.cleveland.com.

-AS