# Camden NJ and Detroit's Decay, a foreshadowing of America's Future? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camden-nj-and-detroits-decay-a-foreshadowing-of-americas-future/626370 "2012-06-26T17:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camden-nj-and-detroits-decay-a-foreshadowing-of-americas-future/626370/41 "2012-06-29T20:47:04Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I spent some time visiting Detroit in the 90s. The downtown is alright, and the suburbs north of 8 Mile are very nice. In between is a vast swath of urban landscape - some areas in decay, other areas holding on, and a scant few are thriving. I recently read (sorry no cite) about Detroit’s cost-cutting programs that turn off street lights in some lightly inhabited neighborhoods. I understand they are also considering letting some sections of the city go back to nature, or convert to urban farming. I think they are actively tearing down abandoned and unsalvagable homes. Perhaps they will relocate some residents to areas where city services are still being provided. I think city leaders have finally realized the great industrial age of Detroit is long-gone and never coming back. Basically, the city leaders have identified which neighborhoods are still decent, and which are mostly abandoned crackhouses. The mostly-abandoned-crackhouses neighborhoods are currently being torn down as money allows. The idea is not only to reduce crime and eyesores, but also so that utilities can be cut off in those areas. It is presumed (although nobody really wants to talk about this openly) that emminent domain will be used to force out the holdouts. There is an idea to start urban farms once the slums are gone, although more likely they’ll simply be left as large grassy areas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camden-nj-and-detroits-decay-a-foreshadowing-of-americas-future/626370.md?page=2)