I don't believe 0bama when they say they won't force people to move, but IF they mean it, and I lived in the only livable house on a street, and the rest were being occupied by transients and rats, I think I'd like it if the city bulldozed those houses and planted trees, etc. Now, I have a choice of selling a house that may have some value because it's not in a demilitarized zone, or living in a country location.
The idea isn't bad. It all depends on how it's done.
The City Where the Sirens Never Sleep
It should be required reading for every American who is involved in government at any level.
Here in Seattle at the turn of the last century they bought all the houses on the hills and water-jetted the hills to erode them to fill in the lowlands where the city is.
Old photos show nice mansions stuck on a pedestal of sand 80-foot tall. Must have waited too long to get their price! While I think the idea has merit, I would imagine the buyouts, lawyers, etc. would be pretty costly to these cities, that are already so in debt. (Seattle at the time I think was flush with Gold Rush money).
Or something...