7_TheDeathAndLifeOfGreatAmericanCities_Jacobs Flashcards
The Death and Life of Great American Cities Jane Jacobs
Why does Jacobs believe the sentimental treatment of the word “neighborhood” is harmful to city planning?
It can warp city life into an imitation of a town or suburban life. A successful city neighborhood must also be aware of it’s problems, so as not to be destroyed by them.
(p.51)
What makes a city neighborhood successful?
Successful localized self-government
In this case, self-government is a broad term, including both informal and formal self-management of society
(p.51)
Are city neighborhoods self contained places?
No, city neighborhoods are extroversions of mobility and fluidity of use
“Neighborhoods in cities need not supply for their people an artificial town or village life, and to aim at this is both silly and destructive.”
(p.51-52)
Three kinds of city neighborhood:
(1) The city as a whole
(2) Street neighborhoods
(3) Districts of large, subcity size, composed of 100,000 people or more in the case of the largest cities
(p.52)
The City as a Whole
[characteristics of this type of neighborhood]
- where most public money comes from
- where most administrative and policy decisions are made
- where there’s the most conflict over general welfare
- presence of special interest communities (example: theater/the arts, specific professions, etc.)
(p.52)
Which is stronger, Street Neighborhoods, or the City as a Whole?
Street neighborhoods may have personal identity, but they have little or no actionable power, and usually end up simply frustrated, even when partnering with boarder Street Neighborhoods. All three types must exist together to be effective, but street nieghborhoods are especially ineffective on their own.
the City as a Whole is stronger
(p.53)
Ideal Aims for neighborhood physical planning for cities (four answers):
(1) Foster lively and interesting streets
(2) Make the fabric of these streets as continuous a network as possible throughout the district of potential subcity size and power
(3) Utilize parks and squares and public buildings; to intensify use, and avoid streets becoming their own island differentiated from the others
(4) Emphasise the functional identity of areas large enough to be districts
[if the first three are successful, the fourth will follow]
(p.53)
How big must a District be in order to be effective?
“Big enough to fight city hall, but not so big that street neighborhoods are unable to draw distinct attention and to count.”
The literal size necessary is contextualized/dependant on the size of the City as a Whole. There must be enough people in the population to have a significant number of votes within the City as a Whole for the District to be effective on its own.
(p.53-54)
Two powers which ultimately shape and run American cities:
(1) Votes (2) Control of the Money
(p.53)
