Model D and UIX Speaker Series: No Property Left Behind

What's the opposite of a land grab?

20,000 properties (you read that right) were recently entered into the world's largest property auction -- roughly 5 percent of all the land within the Detroit city limits.

8,000 of those properties in the 2012 Wayne County Land Auction still weren't purchased. And no doubt more properties will end up on the foreclosure rolls next year.

Here's another question -- how does a city bring so much fallow land back to life?

Join us Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Cafe Con Leches pop-up cafe in Lafayette Park for an Urban Innovation Exchange forum led by Jerry Paffendorf, the mastermind behind Why Dont We Own This? and LOVELAND Technologies.

He'll update the crowd on what challenges and opportunities Detroit faces after the last land auction -- and then we'll split up into forums and smaller discussion groups. Should neighborhoods collectively buy land? How do nonprofits get into the game? What if you'd like to buy that empty lot next door, the one with the lawn you've mowed since you've moved in? Can open land be an opportunity, a resource, instead of an insurmountable problem?

We know you have ideas, and opinions and questions. Let's hear them. After all, less than a year remains until the next land auction begins.

Cafe Con Leche del Este is located at 1561 Lafayette Blvd. in Detroit. The event is free & open to the public, but space is limited. Please register in advance here .

This event is presented by Urban Innnovation Exchange , Model D , Huffington Post Detroit and Curbed Detroit .

Below, check out videos of the individuals who are innovating in Detroit communities. All were made by DETROIT LIVES! for the Urban Innovation Exchange .