Jane Jacobs is known for her advocating mindful development of cities and for revolutionizing urban planning since the 1960s. In honor of her birth, during the first week in May, many locales worldwide encourage city-dwellers to get to know their own places better.
On Saturday, May 4, PlanCharlotte.org, an initiative of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, is sponsoring two Jane Jacobs Walks.
Historian Tom Hanchett from the Levine Museum of the New South will lead the first walk from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During this “munching tour” participants will look at the immigrant-run restaurants and stores in East Charlotte as embodying some of the elemental principles of Jane Jacobs' writing about cities – how they absorb newcomers and allow for entrepreneurial businesses, even if the setting is not necessarily affluent or glossy.
The maximum number of participants for Hanchett's walk is 18. Participants should bring cash to purchase food samples and should wear comfortable shoes. Email RSVPs to Mary Newsome at mnewsom@uncc.edu. Registrants will be notified where to meet.
David Walters, a faculty member in the University’s Master in Urban Design program will lead the second tour from 3:30 to 5 p.m. In this look at South End, Walters will discuss Jane Jacobs' principles for lively city neighborhoods, and he will point out how South End exemplifies these principles in some cases and lacks them in others. The walk will end at a neighborhood pub, Big Ben, at Atherton Mill along the Lynx Blue Line. Email RSVPs to Newsome at mnewsom@uncc.edu. While the number of participants for this tour is not limited, RSVPs are requested, and registrants will receive an email as to where to meet to start the tour.
Attendees of both tours should bring umbrellas in case of rain.