Summary Of Self-Destruction Of Diversity By Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs begins part three of her book based on forces of decline and regeneration. Chapter thirteen is established on “the self-destruction of diversity”. Jacobs introduction to the chapter is on her observations and conclusions that, “ in our American cities, we need all kinds of diversity, intricately mingled in mutual support.” She then explains that this is needed so that city life can work in a decent and constructive manner and that people will be able to sustain their society and civilization. People of the public do have the responsibility through the uses of some of the enterprises such as parks, museums, schools, community centers. However, an individual city resident and various private organizations, create city diversity with their own diverse contributions. What the city planners should provide is a structure for these different uses.

Jacobs describes four forces that tend to destroy diversity. It must be noted that first, diversity can simply destroy itself. When an area becomes too favored, competition will arise

The single uses form borders in cities, with a classic example that railroad tracks do also. It is not the social aspect that we should be concerned with but the physical and functional effects of borders on their immediate city surroundings. There may sometimes be a blight in areas that are neighboring to the tracks just like sometimes in areas that are along the waterfront. According to Jacobs, usually it is worse and there is more of it along the waterfronts than along the tracks. The neighborhoods that are around big city universities, civic centers, large hospital groups and parks are apt to be stagnant- a condition that precedes decay. The main trouble with borders is that they are apt to form dead ends for most users of city streets that for most people represent