Malachi Barrett of Bridge Detroit reports that the “Delray Phytoforest Pilot” project is underway. The concept came out of the city’s 2021 neighborhood framework plan. City Council approved the transfer of 64 Detroit Land Bank (DLBA) properties for the project where 4,000 trees and shrubs will be planted to act as a vegetative buffer in the very polluted area. Based on our 2021 analysis of potential sites for tree buffers, Delray had very few DLBA properties available to effectively mitigate pollution from expressway or industrial sites. The greatest benefit may be leveraging existing city owned properties with increased tree plantings.