Before this unit, I had really only focused on one thing when I was going somewhere and that was where I was going. I never thought to take into consideration how the design and layout of urban areas can affect the way people live their daily lives. However, after taking the tour of Adamson Square and reading passages like The Death and Life of Great American Cities and even listening to James Kunstler’s TED talk, I soon came to realize just how much the way a city, neighborhood, or recreational area can be built to influence the community around it.

During The Death and Life of Great American Cities , Jane Jacobs puts emphasis on sidewalks and how important they are. After doing a little bit more reading into her, one of her well-known ideas is “eyes upon the street,” which describes how people in public areas along with you can help create a more comfortable, safer, and more welcoming environment. Looking back on it, when we were in Adamson Square, I felt much more comfortable seeing the community of people around me.“Jacobs’ argument helped me understand that sidewalks are not just paths to get from one place to another, but spaces where people can observe their surroundings, interact with others, and become part of a community.”

The Square was definitely my biggest link to Jane Jacobs’ argument. It’s a great communal area for people to shop, eat, talk, and spend time together. What’s also so unique about the square is that most people get to places by walking rather than driving, which is what we’re so used to today. The way the road is shared by both cars and pedestrians through the use of sidewalks is a great display of how two aspects of a place can work together to make it more enjoyable for everyone.

Before this, I simply would’ve just seen a sidewalk as a sidewalk and a road as a road.

In James Kunstler’s TED talk, he makes a point about the tragedy of suburbs. He uses heavy criticism and employs emotional appeal tactics to show how public places have lost their sense of meaning. He focuses on how cities are now built for cars and lack meaning, character, and life. This made me realize just how much everyone relies on driving to get to each destination. I started even seeing this at the square as well. The giant concrete parking decks every few blocks overshadow the tiny shops around them and even the stoplights too take away from the feeling that the Square gives.

Although cars are convenient, designing areas mainly around them can make it harder for people to interact and enjoy their surroundings.

At the same time, I don’t think that having cars or having suburbs are necessarily “bad.” Cars can be necessary because people can live far away from downtown Carrollton and they need a way to get there. However, Kunstler’ s argument made me realize convenience shouldn’t be the only thing that is considered when you’re designing a community. Places should give people an opportunity to connect and enjoy their surroundings. A balance between convenience and areas that are meant to be enjoyed is the optimal thing to do.

Overall, these works of literature and my experiences in this class have changed my perspective on everything going on around me. Before, I was only focused on my destination, but now I am also focused on my journey there. I see areas that encourage people to walk, enjoy their lives, and spend time with one another. I also see areas that are designed for efficiency and convenience. It has made me experience the world and environment in an entirely different way. It impacts me, you, and every other person whether they know it or not.