Mayor Mike Duggan has made a substantial commitment strengthening urban agriculture and community farming in Detroit by revealing his plans to appoint a Director of Urban Agriculture. This pivotal announcement was made during a press conference centered around his Land Value Tax proposal, which encompasses safeguards to shield urban farms and community gardens from potential tax hikes.
The move aligns with the broader trend of local governments taking proactive steps to support urban farming initiatives. Detroit follows in the footsteps of other cities like Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Boston, which have already created similar roles to promote urban agriculture.
One of the critical aspects of Mayor Duggan’s announcement is the exemption of urban farms, community gardens, and community spaces from tax increases proposed in the Land Value Tax Plan. This move comes as a relief to many advocates of urban farming, who had initially expressed concerns about the tax implications of the plan.
The proposed Land Value Tax Plan aims to reduce property taxes for Detroit homeowners while increasing taxes on abandoned buildings, vacant land, and underutilized properties. Side lot owners will only experience a small tax increase, averaging $30, which applies to up to four side lots. This is particularly significant for urban gardeners who have utilized the Detroit Land Bank Authority’s Side Lot Program to acquire adjacent vacant lots for farming.
Despite Detroit’s reputation as a hub for urban agriculture, a University of Michigan study found that community and private gardens occupy less than 1% of the vacant land on the city’s lower east side. The study recommended distributing future gardens across the city’s landscape to increase agricultural development, which could provide under-resourced communities with better access to healthy food while mitigating issues like stormwater runoff and blight.
Efforts within the urban agriculture community in Detroit have also aimed to promote access to farming for people of color. Initiatives like the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund have raised funds to support Black Detroiters in purchasing land for farming, resulting in 53 recipients acquiring a combined 15.5 acres of land.
Detroit’s commitment to urban agriculture through the appointment of a Director of Urban Agriculture and the exemptions provided in the Land Value Tax Plan demonstrates the city’s dedication to fostering sustainable farming initiatives. These measures not only protect existing urban farms and gardens but also encourage future growth in this vital sector, enhancing food security and community development in Detroit.
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