Ecological Thinkers and Activists
Who is Jane Jacobs?
Jane Jacobs, Born May 4, 1916 and died April 25, 2006 was a world renown urban theorist, writer, and activist whose activism and campaigning have changed the way cities are planned. She was and is known for her condemning takes and opinions on urban development and the way she intensely supported city life that was community centered. Jacobs has left an undeniable mark on the subject of urban studies. Jane was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she grew up in a working-class family. Her bright future career was partly inspired by and due to the environment in New York that she grew in up. She developed an early interest in urban areas and spaces, which was a key factor to the career she had one she was older. Though she did not have any academic accolades regarding urban studies, her knowledge on the subject was what caused her to be well known Jacobs was fairly unknown until her book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (1961) was published. Her book was mainly focused on questioning the theories and ideas which were popularized by other well-known acclaimed figure in the urban studies sector. Instead of going along with their theories and idea, Jacobs instead showed support for an opinion which had more human involvement. She argued that bigger urban projects were not something that should be prioritized instead trying to shift support to an organic revolutionized way of urban planning. Jane had many important ideas and concepts she held dear to herself, and her work. Some of these include and art not limited to diversity, participation throughout the community and the importance of safe streets. Jacobs believed that cities with more diversity and a mix of development led way to busy thriving adaptable safe neighborhoods. She also wanted to bring attention to bring awareness to the importance of creating safe streets, which would contribute to a safer neighborhood overall Jacobs was a firm believer in local residents influence and having them be the biggest presence in any decisions regarding their own neighborhoods. After gaining major acclaim with her first publication. Jane wrote many other books such as “Cities and the Wealth of Nations” (1984) and “The Economy of Cities” (1969). Both of which gained critical acclaim and support like “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”. Through her writing Jacobs ventured into themes such as economic development and the role of cities in national economies, and the relationship between economic growth and urban environments. Jane’s activism is something that went beyond her writing. She played a huge role when it came to opposing the construction of an expressway through Greenwich Village. Which was a campaign that preserved the neighborhood’s character and community. The grassroots efforts of Jacobs throughout her lifetime demonstrates her commitment to preserving the integrity and vitality of urban spaces. During her life, Jacobs received various honors, awards and accolades for her invaluable contributions to urban studies. Her ideas have influenced multi-generations of planners, architects, and policymakers, cementing her a status as an authority on urbanism. Jane Jacobs spent her last years living in Toronto, Canada. This was where she continued her advocacy and writing before her passing. She was consistently deeply involved in local issues and greatly contributed to the city’s urban environments until her death on April 25, 2006, in Toronto. Her legacy is sustained through her influential writings and the relevancy of her ideas in contemporary urban studies.
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