What’s it like to live in a city that underwhelms existence? I believe the 1995 movie Seven perfectly highlighted the way a city can kill a person’s soul and will to live. What is it like to walk down a street and feel your senses heightened? Watching a kid jump off a red swing onto the colorful playground. Smelling the trees as they shade your sun-lit path. Feeling the gentle breeze as you decide to take a break on a nice wooden side bench. It’s really simple, and because it’s so simple it gets overlooked.
Jane Jacobs advocated for that charming city life, and laid down a legacy. She’s living proof that one doesn’t need formal education in urban planning to know what a city needs. Just look, observe, watch. In cities around the globe, figures like Jan Gehl, Amanda Burden, Gil Penalosa, and Enrique Peñalosa are stepping up, transforming streets and public spaces in ways that carry forward Jacobs’ belief in human-centered design. This article explores how their visionary approaches are reshaping cities into places that work for everyone.
Who is Jane Jacobs?
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Jacobs lacked formal education in urban planning or architecture but possessed an innate curiosity and a sharp eye for observing city life. Her early experiences as a stenographer and freelance writer in New York City provided her with invaluable insights into the complexities of urban environments. During her tenure as associate editor of Architectural Forum in the 1950s, Jacobs grew increasingly critical of traditional city planning practices. In her eyes, cities were lifeless machines that provide nothing but agony to their inhabitants.
Her critiques were directly aimed at modernist city planning, which was heavily influenced by the ideas of Le Corbusier and his vision of the “Radiant City.” Large-scale, top-down urban renewal projects, in her opinion, were killing cities. This pushed her to advocate for human-scaled, mixed-used neighborhoods, and grassroot efforts. Her ideas, especially the notion of “eyes on the street,” have become foundational to contemporary urban planning, underscoring the importance of safety, diversity, and local engagement in the health of cities?.
Loud and clear, Jane Jacobs was a passionate advocate for human life in urban settings. She would go on strikes and riots to protest and highlight her concerns. Actually, in April of 1968, she was arrested for rioting against a public meeting about the Lower Manhattan Expressway. Now, that’s passion incarnate!
One could say that some Placemaking roots can be found in Jane Jacobs’ work. In fact, Placemaking’s founding father, William Whyte, had great influence on Jane Jacobs. He also possessed a peculiar eye for urban observation and wrote extensively about human behavior in public space. His work and support brought Jane Jacob’s words into print in the 1960s. First he was her editor at Fortune, and then encouraged her to publish one of the great urban planning critique books titled “Death and Life of Great American Cities”.
Leaders Reshaping Cities For Better
Jane Jacobs is a force to reckon with, an epitome of activism in the face of adversaries and challenges. Her legacy lives long, as many leaders are as though reincarnations of her efforts. Most are not intentionally aiming to follow in her footsteps, but somehow we can feel a common thread.
Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl, a pioneering architect in urban design and planning, is renowned for his human-centered approach to creating cities that prioritize the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. Through his research and consulting work, Gehl has influenced urban planning projects worldwide. His designs advocate for the creation of vibrant public spaces that promote social interaction and community engagement. For example, his consultancy firm, Gehl Architects, has been involved in projects such as the redesign of New York City’s Times Square and the revitalization of Melbourne’s city center.
Gehl’s work in Melbourne transformed the city from a lifeless business district into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly environment. His recommendations, such as increasing outdoor dining and street furniture, were initially met with skepticism but have since led to a significant rise in street activity. Thus, making Melbourne a global model for urban renewal. In New York, Gehl helped reimagine Times Square by reallocating street space from cars to pedestrians. This resulted in a dramatic increase in foot traffic and making the square a safer, more vibrant public space. Both projects highlight Gehl’s core belief that cities should be designed for people; that cities should foster social interactions and improve the overall quality of urban life.
Sadhu Johnston
Sadhu Johnston, a key figure in urban resilience, significantly advanced Vancouver’s climate adaptation strategies during his tenure as Chief Resilience Officer and City Manager in the 2020s. Under his leadership, the city developed and expanded the Greenest City Action Plan and launched various resilience initiatives. These included increasing green spaces, expanding sustainable transport infrastructure, and creating buildings and public spaces that can withstand environmental pressures such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
Johnston’s work also focused on addressing Vancouver’s climate risks through the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. This included actions like enhancing the urban tree canopy, improving cooling infrastructures, and implementing green rainwater systems to mitigate the urban heat island effect. His efforts contributed to making Vancouver a global leader in sustainable urban planning, with projects that also prioritized community involvement and equity?.
Amanda Burden
Amanda Burden, who served as New York City’s Planning Commissioner from 2002 to 2013, played a critical role in shaping the city’s urban landscape. During her tenure, she spearheaded numerous projects aimed at enhancing public spaces and promoting sustainable urban development. One of her most significant achievements was championing the creation of the High Line, a linear park built on an abandoned elevated railway track in Manhattan. This project revitalized a neglected industrial area, transforming it into a popular public space that encourages social interaction. It also serves as a model for urban regeneration projects worldwide.
Burden also prioritized the development of waterfront areas, such as Brooklyn’s waterfront, and worked to make the city more pedestrian-friendly. She emphasizes the importance of accessible, inviting public spaces. Her work under Mayor Bloomberg involved comprehensive rezoning plans that reshaped much of the city’s landscape. These efforts encouraged mixed-use development and fostered livable communities that integrate residential, commercial, and recreational areas.
Gil Penalosa
Gil Penalosa, founder of the non-profit organization 8 80 Cities, is a prominent advocate for creating inclusive and equitable urban spaces. His vision is centered on the idea that cities should be designed for both 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds. The concept is to ensure that urban environments are accessible, safe, and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities. Penalosa’s organization has worked globally and partnered with cities to promote active transportation.
A key initiative led by 8 80 Cities is the Open Streets project, which temporarily closes streets to cars, allowing them to be repurposed as safe spaces for walking, cycling, and community gatherings. This model has been implemented in cities worldwide, helping to improve public health, social interaction, and environmental sustainability.
Enrique Peñalosa
Enrique Peñalosa, during his second term as mayor of Bogotá (2016–2019), introduced policies that significantly improved urban mobility and the quality of life in the city. His most notable achievement was the continued expansion of the TransMilenio bus rapid transit (BRT) system. It served as a global model for reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. The system efficiently transports millions of residents daily by using dedicated bus lanes, which significantly improves accessibility for lower-income residents who rely on public transportation.
Peñalosa also prioritized the expansion of Bogotá’s extensive bike lane network, known as CicloRuta, which now spans over 300 kilometers. This network encourages cycling as a cheap, healthy, and sustainable transportation alternative. His pedestrian-first approach led to the creation of pedestrian zones and the improvement of public spaces, including parks and plazas, promoting social equality by ensuring that public spaces are accessible to all citizens, regardless of income level.
His initiatives have been globally recognized as exemplary models of urban sustainability. Cities around the world draw inspiration from Bogotá on how to improve public transportation, cycling infrastructure, and the quality of public spaces.
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