Cities' loss

The world lost a great lady yesterday. Urban theorist Jane Jacobs died at the age of 89.

I read her most famous book this past semester, Death and Life of Great American Cities. Her thesis is that the path to a vibrant city life can't be planned and developed in a sterile academic thinkers' context. Rather, in order to understand how a city should be, planners must pay attention to the everyday lived reality of everyday city-dwellers. She showed how and why a vibrant street life is more important than parks, why bars and restaurants that operate into the wee hours are vital to the health of a neighbourhood, and why large apartment buildings surrounded by green space do not work.

Her writing is down to earth and her style sparse, uncomplicated. And she loved Toronto just as much as I do.

RIP Jane.