Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Jane Jacobs: Urban Activist

Jane Jacobs wrote "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" in 1961; her book challenged the urban planning principles of Robert Moses and his 20th century contemporaries.  She was against large scale urban renewal projects that displaced families through eminent domain and disengaged pedestrians via austere architectural form.  

"Death and Life ..." received both praise and criticism; critics pointed to her lack of historical, theoretical and practical understanding of urban planning while supporters focused on her public sensibility which countered planning practices at the time.  Though Jacobs did not have a formal planning education she inspired New Urbanists.  In her book she makes four recommendations for diversity:  multi-functional streets and districts; short blocks; multiple building use, function and type; and dense populations.

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