Student Film Captures The Nature Of A 'Lively' Downtown

In the same vein as Jane Jacobs and William Whyte, Kirk Westphal, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan's Taubman School of Urban Planning, analyzes the success and failures of downtown Ann Arbor.

1 minute read

October 5, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT

By Mike Lydon


"The opening scene of Kirk Westphal's documentary fast-forwards through minutes of footage shot at night at the corner of South Main and Liberty streets in downtown Ann Arbor.

Thanks to the use of time-lapse photography, viewers see continual throngs of people crossing the street in a well-lit downtown after dark. Viewers are left without a doubt that this a city that is alive, even after the sun goes down.

'Insights into a Lively Downtown: An Ann Arbor, Michigan Case Study,' features interviews with dozens of people about what they like and don't like about the core of the city. But the film focuses much on what is right about downtown Ann Arbor, allowing the city to prosper even as many other towns struggle to keep their downtowns alive."

Monday, October 2, 2006 in Ann Arbor News

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

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee