Quick Thought of the day: ‘“Ghetto” Space’

Through my travels around Chicago, I have really begun to notice a strange use of space within the “lower income” areas.  Houses are left vacant and empty, and boarded up.  And then huge plots of land left unused and in hopeful real estate profit.

I have noticed a mere 7 empty plots of land surrounding just a 2 block radius of my house. And I got to thinking. These are places that are left with nothing, an absence of money, power and support - surely these spaces should be put to better use.

- How long have they been empty for?

- Why was the previous house/store closed and knocked down?

- Why, in a housing crisis, are there empty houses?