[skybrian]

In much of the American West, water is the limiting factor. To build another Las Vegas, the water rights would need to be bought somehow.

Cities can outbid agriculture, but the water rights market is complicated.

A better example might be the California Forever project which seemingly had this figured out, but was blocked because they couldn't get permission.

[downrightmike]

Agriculture, the Saudis get five harvests of alfalfa a year by leasing unlimited water rights in Arizona for practically nothing. The Az Governor could call the leases and stop that, but they haven't for some reason. Most water in AZ is for Manufacturing and Farming, very little is used for people.

[fireflash38]

There's tons of land on the east coast too, just far away from people and amenities. See: rural WV, PA, VA, etc.

[skybrian]

Yes, and rust belt cities have lots of infrastructure that could be reused. Jobs are probably a limiting factor. Less so with working remotely.

[robotnikman]

This is one of the reasons I wish companies embraced remote work more, and which I wish the government encouraged more. Plenty of locations could be rebuilt and revitalized simply by moving working families there, and plenty of people would be happy to buy up the cheaper housing and contribute to the local economy if their places of work allowed for such flexibility.

Its a real shame that both state and federal governments do not see the advantages of this...

[kjkjadksj]

Most of that rust belt infrastructure from mid century population highs is actually at end of life. Some cities are having a crisis with things like their sewer systems right now. Its underreported because no one cares about the intricacies of stormwater and sewage movements, much less in a smaller midwestern city.

[telotortium]

They are currently attempting to essentially be annexed by the small community of Suisun City in exchange for being allowed to develop the land according to their vision.