Thirty-five contemporary thinkers offer insight into the workings of vibrant, ecological, equitable communities and their economies.
Advance Praise for What We See
"It's as if Jane Jacobs' bright eye hadn't dimmed... In the hands of this book's essay writers, new thoughts sprout, all as true to Jane's spirit and inventive urbanity as the gardens (intellectual and physical) she cultivated in her lifetime."
--Neal Peirce, journalist and Chair, The Citistates Group; author, Boundary Crossers
"In this book are the testimonials of 'Jane's children'... building on what she began back in the '60s. It's taken a long time, but it's happening."
--David Byrne, musician, artist and author, Bicycle Diaries
"A delicious international and interdisciplinary banquet of offerings to honor the passionate and multifaceted work of our beloved urbanist, Jane Jacobs."
--Wendy Sarkissian, author, Kitchen Table Sustainability and Creative Community Planning
"How can one resist cheering on this urban original?... We see how Jane Jacobs and our neighborhoods live on through her ideas."
--Victor S. Navasky, Publisher Emeritus, The Nation, and author, A Matter of Opinion
"The reflections on this remarkable woman, and the still-unfolding project of city-building today, are a joy to read."
--Anthony Flint, author, Wrestling with Moses
"The essayists in What We See have built on those essential footholds that people who have never heard of Jane Jacobs will benefit them for decades."
--Majora Carter, founder, Sustainable South Bronx, and winner, Rachel Carson Award
"A moving and enlightening tribute to the ideas and methods of Jane Jacobs... that will inspire others to observe closely, contemplate broadly, and engage civically."
--Glenna Lang, co-author, Genius of Common Sense
"There is no better starting place for re-evaluating tomorrow's complex cities than this book, which is full of the wisdom and insight Jane Jacobs so astutely taught us... Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"
--Fred Kent, President, Project for Public Spaces
Foreword Michael Sorkin Sorkin, Michael
Acknowledgments
Introduction Lynne Elizabeth Elizabeth, Lynne
Eyes Wide Open
Section 1 Vitality of the Neighborhood
1.1 Between Utopias Deanne Taylor Taylor, Deanne 3
1.2 Jane Jacobs and the "Battle for the Street" Ray Suarez Suarez, Ray 15
1.3 The Mirage of the Efficient City Sanford Ikeda Ikeda, Sanford 24
1.4 The Intelligence of Informality Nabeel Hamdi Hamdi, Nabeel 34
The Tao of Urbanism: Integrating Observation with Action Nan Ellin Ellin, Nan 44
Section 2 The Virtues of Seeing
2.1 Nine Ways of Looking at Ourselves (Looking at Cities) Arlene Goldbard Goldbard, Arlene 57
2.2 The Logic of Small Pieces: A Story in Three Ballets Mindy Thompson Fullilove Fullilove, Mindy Thompson 68
2.3 Of Things Seen and Unseen Alexie M. Torres-Fleming Torres-Fleming, Alexie M. 78
2.4 The Fine Arts of Seeing: Professions, Places, Arts, and Urban Design Rob Cowan Cowan, Rob 87
Section 3 Cities, Villages, Streets
3.1 Cities and the Wealth of Places Daniel Kemmis Kemmis, Daniel 99
3.2 Queen Street Allan Jacobs Jacobs, Allan 108
3.3 The Interconnectedness of Things Kenneth Greenberg Greenberg, Kenneth 116
3.4 Jane Jacobs: The Toronto Experience David Crombie Crombie, David 125
3.5 The Village Inside Rahul Srivastava Srivastava, Rahul 135
Section 4 The Organized Complexity Of Planning
4.1 The Obligation to Listen, Learn and Teach---Patiently James Stockard Stockard, James 151
4.2 Built Form and the Metaphor of Storytelling Robert Sirman Sirman, Robert 159
4.3 Steps Toward a Just Metropolis Chester Hartman Hartman, Chester 167
4.4 Illuminating Germany: Observations on Urban Planning Policies in the Light of Jane Jacobs Peter Zlonicky Zlonicky, Peter 176
4.5 Reviving Cities Jaime Lerner Lerner, Jaime 184
Section 5 Design for Nature, Design for People
5.1 Recognizing What Works: A Conscious Emulation of Life's Genius Janine Benyus Benyus, Janine 195
5.2 "Codevelopment" as a Principle for Next Generation Infrastructure Hillary Brown Brown, Hillary 205
5.3 Jane Jacobs Basics Richard Register Register, Richard 217
5.4 Jane Jacobs: Environmental Preservationist Roberta Brandes Gratz Gratz, Roberta Brandes 223
5.5 For You Jane Jan Gebl Gebl, Jan 134
5.6 Think of a City and What Comes to Mind? Its Streets Janette Sadik-Khan Sadik-Khan, Janette 242
5.7 The Needs of Children in Contemporary Cities Clare Cooper Marcus Marcus, Clare Cooper 249
Section 6 Economic Instincts
6.1 When Places Have Deep Economic Histories Saskia Sassen Sassen, Saskia 263
6.2 The Grace of Import Replacement Susan Witt Witt, Susan 276
6.3 Rethinking "Jacobs Spillovers," or How Diverse Cities Actually Make Individuals More Creative and Economically Successful Samuli Leppala Leppala, Samuli 287
6.4 Beyond Green Jobs: Seeking a New Paradigm Ron Shiffman Shiffman, Ron 297
Epilogue Mary Rowe, Jane's Cup of Tea 307
Study Guide 317
Contributors 327
Index 339
Overview
Thirty-five contemporary thinkers offer insight into the workings of vibrant, ecological, equitable communities and their economies.
Advance Praise for What We See
"It's as if Jane Jacobs' bright eye hadn't dimmed... In the hands of this book's essay writers, new thoughts sprout, all as true to Jane's spirit and inventive urbanity as the gardens (intellectual and physical) she cultivated in her lifetime."
--Neal Peirce, journalist and Chair, ...