Jane Jacobs, Culture Hero

April 26, 2006

Madison's Mayor Dave is often quoted as using the term "new urbanism" in regards to various projects around town. The person who developed this concept died this week, Jane Jacobs, who in the early 1960's wrote trenchant critiques of the urban planners, most specifically, the then all powerful Robert Moses, who wanted to put a multi-lane expressway through lower Manhattan. book cover Ms. Jacobs rallied enough support to stop it. A first.

Want to be inspired? Read her books. The Oscar Rennebohm Library has three:

Here is her New York Times obituary.

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