Hantz Farms' Mike Score took MLive Detroit on a tour of their east side parcels of land they own and are looking to own on Tuesday, June 25. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI - An urban farm called Hantz Woodlands, billed by its creators as the world's largest, is starting to transform parts of Detroit's east side.

Crews are clearing debris, tearing down blighted structures and mowing grass on parcels of land owned by the company, and have begun planting 2-foot high oak, maple and poplar seedlings.

"This is a perpetual commitment to make neighborhoods more viable," said Mike Score, a project coordinator and Detroit native, who gave MLive Detroit a tour Tuesday morning of the Woodlands sites.

Hantz Woodlands' goal is to have at least 15,000 trees planted and 50 blighted structures torn down in two years on parcels of land that weave in and out of existing neighborhoods.

None of the planting areas will be fenced off, and parcels owned by Hantz Woodlands will be mowed no later than every three weeks during the growing season, Score said.

Hantz Farms' Mike Score took MLive Detroit on a tour of their east side parcels of land they own and are looking to own on Tuesday, June 25. Hantz Farms currently owns 165 parcels of land and are cutting the grass and maintaining the property of another 165 parcels they do not even own. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

“Every day we’re mowing, at least five to 10 people stop to thank us," said Score, who was born on Detroit's east side and starts his work days at 7 a.m. "It affirms what we knew to be true (that the project is beneficial to the city.”

Score and two other Hantz Woodlands crew members are currently mowing, planting trees and maintaining about 300 parcels of land, mostly along or near Mt. Elliott Street. That area is within Davison, Brimson, St. Louis and Dwyer.

Hantz Woodlands, owned and funded by Detroit resident and businessman John Hantz, has been approved by the city of Detroit for an additional 1,500 lots south of the Mt. Elliott area, but is waiting for the land purchase agreement to be finalized by state-appointed emergency financial manger Kevyn Orr.

Score said the agreement could be approved by Orr sometime this summer and could possibly lead to more purchases of land for an extension of Hantz Woodlands in the future.

Another 66 parcels of land on the lower east side of Detroit, owned by the Detroit Public Schools, could eventually be sold to Hantz Woodlands for more tree planting, Score said.

The 1,500 lots are located in an area on Detroit's lower east side within the boundaries of Mack, Van Dyke, Jefferson and St. Jean.

Hantz Farms' Mike Score took MLive Detroit on a tour of their east side parcels of land they own and are looking to own on Tuesday, June 25. Hantz Farms currently owns 165 parcels of land and are cutting the grass and maintaining the property of another 165 parcels they do not even own. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

Trees planted in the Hantz Woodlands areas are expected to have a 90 percent survival rate and mature to full size within 40-60 years.

Score said the Hantz Woodlands concept is based on a for-profit business model, but this effort might not end up being a profitable one for years - or even decades.

Score added that Hantz Woodlands has drawn attention from elected officials from Cleveland and Indianapolis who have visited the sites for research purposes.

"Give people a reason to be happy you came," said Score, who stressed the importance of not interfering with existing neighborhoods, occupied homes and their residents. "

The Mt. Elliott area of Hantz Woodlands is expected be home to at least 1,000 trees; crews found 430 tires in 34 parcels and 150 cubic yards of household trash while preparing the area for planting.

Trees for Hantz Woodlands come from Michigan's west side of the state and parts of Minnesota.

Planting seasons come two times of the year: the fall and spring, and the goal is to plan 1,000 to 1,500 trees per acre, Score said.

Follow MLive Detroit in the coming days, weeks and months for more news and updates about the Hantz Woodlands project.

The topic has definitely generated a variety of opinions in Metro Detroit about urban farming.

Score believes this effort is one step toward moving the city forward, at a time when its population keeps declining.

"The (Detroit) population doesn’t have to be two million to be great,” Score said. “If you’re great, it doesn’t matter how many people you got.”

What do you think about Hantz Woodlands?

Share your thoughts in MLive Detroit's comments section and enjoy the photos above from staff photographer Tanya Moutzalias.