| Community urban greening activities are increasingly used as a strategy to revitalize postindustrial urban space. While critical scholars, such as urban political ecologists (UPE), suggest these initiatives legitimate a retreat of the state and deepen urban inequality, community development scholars argue that community benefits emerge from such activities. This dissertation proposes a middle ground between these divergent perspectives by examining multiple aspects of community urban greening as a development strategy. Using research questions derived from both UPE and from the Community Capitals Framework (CCF), which focuses on community asset building, I compare case studies of five community groups in Flint, MI taking part in community urban greening projects. Findings illustrate that while community urban greening strategies may be undertaken within a constricted political structure, residents believe there are many localized benefits involved with greening. Many of the projects work to make up for the reduction in city services that has taken place as a result of municipal devolution. Despite these positive findings, this case also offers examples of varying success in relation to urban greening and highlights certain variables associated with community greening sustainability. This research contributes to timely discussions on repurposing vacant land and revitalizing neighborhoods in postindustrial cities. While this is a very salient issue in Flint, similar strategies are being used across the country as a way to adjust to shrinking municipal budgets. |
