Annmarie’s Reactions to Sparks 2/6/12

I too found the readings on Five Points to be extremely interesting, especially since as a commuting high school student, I would constantly pass by the famous graffiti-covered Five Points building on the 7 train. I agree with Liz’s observations of Jane Jacobs’ opinions that described “slums” still have the ability to thrive. In every city, even a “slum”, there is some sort of charm that makes some of its inhabitants enjoy and love the city at least a little bit. There are reasons people call these “crummy” cities home, and the same has to apply to Five Points. Liz’s point about Five Points’ problem lying within the lack of understanding of city planners was very interesting and connects to my thoughts on the famous Fice Points Building. Currently, there is a plan to cut down this amazing piece of building-turned-artwork, and replace it with some condo, office building, or what have you. The mere existence of this plan is a perfect example of how and why city planners may not understand what makes a city thrive. Tearing down buildings that are very culturally and artistically significant to a city’s inhabitants is what may be making the “problems” in these problem-cities.
I wasn’t as surprised as Jackie was about the importance of transportation (mass and otherwise) to urban layouts. I agree that transportation is one of the most important aspects of urban development. Not only does it enrich the flow of commerce throughout cities (New York especially, with its many ports, bridges, tunnels, highway systems, roads, etc.), but it also simply helps remove the elements that have given areas such as 42nd Street and Needle Park (the Upper West Side) problems in be past. When we take into the account the examples Jackie gives us of cities that have changed for the better, I think in the lomg run it is worth it to wait for these cities to improve on their own terms, rather than try to force change unnaturally, that way there is no danger of a relapse of problems thse cities may have previously had.