George Nemeth · Brian Friedman on Chickens

January 11th, 2009

One of these days, I’d like a coop on my urban farm:

Even though another boarded-up building, not unlike the three that were finally razed, stands catty-corner to his office, Brian Friedman believes that every step you take gets you closer. As executive director of Collinwood’s Northeast Shores Development Corporation, he’s had to undergo a not-so-subtle shift in his thinking in recent years.

“Before the mortgage meltdown, I’d have anticipated that these would be good sites to build new homes,” he says. “But with this housing crisis and the continuing erosion of the population, to propose that would be ridiculous.”

He doesn’t see a problem with residents adding some barnyard characters to the mix either. He came to Collinwood from a CDC in South Lorain, a predominantly Hispanic area. “I used to joke that there were more roosters and chickens in South Lorain than people,” he says. “So I’ve seen how they’re not a nuisance at all…”

The Cleveland Free Times :: Cover :: City Chicken

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Category: Economic Development
2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Brian Friedman on Chickens”

  1. Frank Z. Revy Says:
    January 14th, 2009 at 11:12 am

    One of the things that I have been talking about since I moved to North Collinwood is more green space.
    And now – I keep hearing about Urban Farms and Chicken Farms in the city – and I think why not!? It’s a great idea – it helps keep our food supply local, adds a little spice to our local life, and resonates well with the sustainability philosophy which seems to be taking hold.

    I say ‘Hail to the mighty chicken!’

  2. George Nemeth Says:
    January 14th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Saying “they’re not a nuisance” is not embracing and promoting the vision. Yes, there’s a sustainable philosophy taking hold in North Collinwood, but is it taking hold at Northeast Shores?