Society

The Death and Life of Great American Cities: 8 key ideas

by Jane Jacobs

The core ideas of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 8

   Planners were destroying cities

   Jacobs, a writer and activist in New York, argues that the city planning ideas of her time were destroying the life of cities.

   Large housing projects and highways, she says, broke apart lively neighbourhoods.

2. IDEA 2 OF 8

   Busy streets are safer

   Jacobs argues that streets are safest when many people are around, with shops and homes facing them.

   She calls this natural watching eyes on the street. In her view, such watching works better than police alone.

3. IDEA 3 OF 8

   Streets have a daily rhythm

   Jacobs describes the sidewalk ballet, the daily pattern of people coming and going on a busy street.

   She finds beauty in this ordinary activity. She argues that this lively pattern is what keeps a street safe and friendly.

4. IDEA 4 OF 8

   Mixed uses keep places lively

   Jacobs argues that neighbourhoods need a mix of uses, such as homes, shops and offices, so that people are around at different times of day.

   Without this mix, a place may empty out at certain hours and feel less safe.

5. IDEA 5 OF 8

   Short blocks help

   Jacobs argues that short blocks give people more routes and more corners.

   This encourages walking and variety. More corners mean more chances for people to meet and for small shops to find customers.

6. IDEA 6 OF 8

   Old buildings matter

   Jacobs argues that neighbourhoods need a mix of old and new buildings.

   Older, cheaper buildings let small businesses survive. New buildings are costly to rent, so only well-funded businesses can afford to move into them.

7. IDEA 7 OF 8

   Density supports diversity

   Jacobs argues that cities need enough people living closely together to support lively streets and businesses.

   Without enough people in an area, many shops and services cannot survive, and the street feels empty.

8. IDEA 8 OF 8

   Cities are complex systems

   Jacobs argues that cities are problems of organised complexity, where many factors interact.

   Planners must understand this rather than impose simple plans. In her view, local knowledge of how a place really works should guide any plan.