One issue that the article doesn’t address is the fact that urban census tracts are very populated, and hence are very small.
Case in point, look at the near south shore of Chicago. At 61st and Stony Island, there is a “food island.” Now the eastern half of the census tract is park and golf course. The western half is very close to non-desert census tracts. If you lived smack in the middle of the populated area of the census tract, you would find that the Hyde Park Co-op (or whatever it is called now)is only 6-8 blocks away at 55th and Hyde Park Blvd. The Hyde Park Co-op has the EXACT types of foods the bureaucrats are promoting. However, the prices are a bit high. If you have a car, Hyde Prk Produce is a 5min. drive away at 53rd and Kimbark (about 12 blocks, still walkable in decent weather), and I think the general purpose Mr. G’s might still be there. These urban stores will also deliver groceries. You walk or take a bus, and for a couple of dollars per bag, they’ll drive the stuff to your apartment. It costs more, but hey, no car payment ... right?
Know that area well - besides the obvious taxes of crime, vandalism, shoplifting would need to factor in such things as corrupt Chicago politics. I’m no expert but color me shocked if there aren’t a myriad of local taxes, fees, regulations and kickbacks that would make it very expensive indeed to open up any kind of small business there.