Urban Renewal: By The 1960's

In the mid 1900’s, the urbanization of American cities was rapidly taking place amidst countless controversial urban renewal initiatives. Before this wave of urbanization hit, however, there was a major push for the removal of slums and deteriorating districts, as well as more efficient and well planned areas that supported transportation developments. City planners interpreted this need as a chance to take action by attempting to demolish low-income housing and outdated commercial properties to make way for new urban projects. Although these changes intended to provide people with new opportunities, it had the opposite effect. Thousands of families were displaced from their homes and forced to move into public housing which deepened the

This project was the start of highway construction, which was meant to aid in city growth by bringing people into the cities in a more direct and orderly manner. Although the original plan seemed to be beneficial, it resulted in the destruction of several thriving neighborhoods. City planners, such as Robert Moses, analyzed the planning of cities from above and cared little about destroying communities in order to to achieve their goal (Urbanized). It is no doubt that controversy transpired because of this. Activists like Jane Jacobs were strongly opposed to these ruinous methods of city rebuilding and were determined to prove the quality of city blocks that remained (Jacobs, 5). Jacobs proposed that cities are in need of four main modes of diversity which are, need for mixed primary uses, small blocks, aged buildings, and concentration. All of the areas being destroyed for highways contained these features, however, they were considered to be hinderance to urban development because they failed to follow the modern idea of

The documentary looks at the issues and designs of urban planning that shape the future of cities across the nation. In New York City, the Department of City Planning is developing a project called the High Line, which is transforming an elevated train line into a public park (Urbanized). The department is responsible for positively shaping its neighborhoods and aim to judge their progress by the standards established by Jane Jacobs. The film explains these standards as an argument for communities that offer a variety of uses and that place an emphasis on the perspectives of people who live at street level. Jane Jacobs and the New York city planners have both adopted the view that having a sense of familiar community creates a safer and more comfortable environment for all. Overall, the film argues against urban renewal projects, such as modern highway construction, because it has the potential to rip apart the fundamental social infrastructure that makes community possible. Although highway construction has the benefits of bringing more people into the city, it can be harmful when it uproots established areas. When people move out of historic areas, a sense of civic center is lost and the heart of the city dies. This is what Jane Jacobs attributes to the breakdown of cities and neighborhoods