Continue reading the interview with Jane Jacobs, over here.HB: I thought I’d start by asking how you started writing about cities and what makes them work.
JJ: Well, I really explain all that in the Introduction to The Death and Life of Great American Cities. In brief, I was working for an architectural magazine, and I became dismayed at how unrealistic the plans that I was writing about were. I saw that they didn’t really make very magnetic or attractive city areas; people seemed to shun them instead of enjoying them. And then I was fortunate in having a good mentor who had been thinking about the same things, the head worker of a settlement in East Harlem. And he got me thinking along the lines of how city streets work.
HB: In ways that professional planners hadn’t really been considering?
JJ: No, they didn’t like the street....
10/18/05 11pm
- Just received this link about the life and work of Jane Jacobs from a frequent reader of this blog. See the comment below. Thanks Ken! The site includes Random Thoughts from Jane Jacobs. A must read if you are into urban planning and thinking issues.
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Jane Jacobs is a genius. If you would like to see some essays written by folks who are admirers of hers, please follow this link: http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/lawreviews/meta-elements/journals/bcealr/28_4/28_4_toc.htm
Probably the biggest structural reason why Jane's ideas are not implemented is our zoning law's obsession with segrating land uses by geographical area. You'll see all kinds of interesting ideas in these essays.
I am originally from Grand Island and am planning a move back to Buffalo in the next couple years. I read your blog at least once a week and am amazed at the content. Keep up the good work.
Ken Forton
Ken,
Thanks for the link about JJ and the kind words.