A West Coast Voice Bids Farewell To Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs wrote little about Los Angeles, a city that might make her shudder, but she is still fondly remembered there. Sam Hall Kaplan presents his personal account of one of the 20th century's greatest urbanists.

2 minute read

May 18, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By Josh Stephens @jrstephens310


"The Jane I knew back in her New York hey days in the early 60s was an unapologetic populist and a heartfelt humanist. Frankly homely, and awkward, yet radiant and endearing, she was a sometimes journalist and a steadfast community activist. As for me, I was at the time a fledgling metro reporter for the New York Times who also surreptitiously wrote for the Village Voice and hung out in her West Village neighborhood."

"Jane's appreciation of cities was visceral, not abstractions viewed from an upper floor board room, or from the back seat of a cab, or as a site plan in an architect’s office. Rather, cities were to be experienced on the sidewalk, moveable feasts appealing to the five senses. She ate like we born and ill-bred New Yorkers, standing up at hot dog stands and pizza stalls, and sitting down in communal Italian restaurants or to have a beer at taverns such as the White Horse. Not incidentally, the tavern, a former haunt of the poet Dylan Thomas where we and some select nefarious hung out, was a few wobbling steps from her second floor apartment on Hudson Street."

"This was an attitude that informed 'Death and Life' and made it unquestionably the most influential book on urban planning of the last century. That it was written by an untutored urbanist, with no academic credentials or professional conceits made it all the more salient."

Thanks to Josh Stephens

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Orange and white vintage-look streetcar on Market Street in San Francisco, CA.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024

The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

April 4 - San Francisco Chronicle

Green and silver Max BRT bus at station in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding

In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

April 4 - Colorado Public Radio

Low view of separated bike lanes in middle of Pennsylvania Avenue with U.S. Capitol dome visible at end of street at night.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy

The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.

April 4 - Grist