Streetwise Neighbors' Eyes

What Jane Jacobs Saw in Cities That Thrive

It's difficult to get to know your neighbors if the only time you're likely to meet them is in the elevator of your high-rise apartment block. Meeting them at street level is more neighborly, provided the street environment is safe and friendly. All too often it isn't, and many blame architects, urban planners, and urban designers for this. That is not unreasonable.

Neighborhoods are better understood when viewed from the perspective of their residents. Back in the 1960s, Jane Jacobs tried to get planning professionals to do just that. Architects, urban planners, and urban designers owe her a huge debt for her contribution to our understanding of how cities...