“Old” New Urbanism

Can planers learn from the people who use the place? Planners should experience the area that is relevant to their projects. This does not just mean walking the streets, observing the users and familiarising themselves with the places but also listening to the people who visit and reside there. Planners need to find out, from the people, positive elements of the place and use them to their advantage.

Jane Jacobs is a journalist, activist and urban theorist with no planning background except extensive experience in the place she lives (New York). Jane Jacobs has contributed greatly to planning theory and is the perfect example of how society can shape their city. Jane Jacobs has described how downtown can work for its people.

There is a real potential to utilise alleyways in downtown areas. These alleyways should provide a variety of uses which attract a blend of users. The buildings should include old with new and be made up of visually interesting and useful features that invite the sightseer or shopper.

Streets within the downtown area should not just be borders for the buildings but should create a link and entice the pedestrian. Streets that are fairly narrow, short and not congested by cars should be the streets planned for pedestrians use, however, planners should consider not just the street but the area as well.

Most successful downtown areas include focal points where the streets are most active. These focal points must be surprising and delightful so that it has a positive effect on the whole area.

 
The downtown area needs to be packed with variety so that the place is as active at night time as it is during the day (a two-shift city). Though, great thought needs to be undertaken when deciding where the different uses should be and a starting place for these decisions should begin with the community who use it.