Lessons to learn from ‘Life, Death'

Almost a half-century ago, New York resident, economist and author Jane Jacobs wrote a highly influential book called 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities.'

That 1961 work — a rebellion against large-scale public works that often destroyed the fine grain of old city neighborhoods — resonates among historic preservationists and city lovers to this day.

Recently, Brooklyn College sociology professor Sharon Zukin, who talked with Jacobs before her death in 2006, completed a new book that — like Jacobs' famous work — focuses on New York but offers lessons far beyond.

Zukin recently spoke with me by phone about what lessons she hopes people will draw from her new work, 'Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places.'

Here are some highlights of our talk (the complete version can be found online at www.postandcourier.com):

Q: You appear to respect the impact Jane Jacobs had with her celebration of the urban village and the ballet of the street, but you also note that she looked over other realities changing cities. What was her blind spot?

A: 'Her blind spot was people. … She emphasizes keeping buildings in place without thinking of all the economic and cultural forces that should keep people in places. This is painfully obvious to us now.'

Q: Your book studies New York, but do you feel its lessons apply to other cities?

A: 'Yes I do. I have to say this is a common experience of the biggest cities around the world and the centers of some other cities. It doesn't apply to cities that have been decimated by economic changes, like Detroit.'

Q: Here in Charleston, our main commercial street, King Street, is remarkably preserved, but some are concerned that there are many more chain stores that don't make the street as unique.

A: 'The chain store invasion is a universal problem. … They can pay much higher rents than mom and pops. There's that (reality) that city governments can't do anything about. City governments also can't do anything about consumer tastes. Since the 1980s, consumers have wanted low prices and brand names, and that's what the chain stores supply.'

Q: Historic preservation is very big here in Charleston, but you have seen a downside to it, or at

least unintended consequences. In general, what message or lesson would you hope preservationists take from your book?

A: 'I hope preservationists will add to their very important agenda the need to keep longtime residents in buildings. I'm a great supporter of historic preservation. I believe cities would be far worse than they are if our material connections to memory are destroyed, but historic preservationists often focus on the buildings rather than on the people.'

Q: Your book implies that authenticity is what cities should strive for, yet it also seems a somewhat elusive concept. For instance, is a Starbucks in a renovated building authentic? Aren't cities always evolving in authentic ways — it's just that some find certain forms of authenticity more marketable or desirable than others?

A: 'Absolutely, and this is the tragic part of authenticity. It's a very uncertain idea, and authenticity can mean different things to different people. … What I'm arguing for is that we think about authenticity in terms of social diversity, ethnic diversity, and cultural diversity. It may be in a neighborhood that has been in a sorry state, Starbucks is a sign of renewal but in another neighborhood, Starbucks might be a sign of cursed homogenization.'

Q: What would you hope mayors and City Council members take away from the book? What encourages you about what you've seen from municipal government?

A: 'What's positive is any kind of law that encourages residents to hold onto their homes, that encourages new people to set up small businesses in places where they already have been trying to put down roots. I want local officials to take away the idea that we have to protect the cities that we have with the people that we have and the buildings that we have for the most part rather than to run after the goal of constant growth and constant tearing down and rebuilding.'

Q: What is the media's role in all of this? Do you see them more as part of the problem or part of the solution?

A: 'The media is always part of everything. It's very, very important. The media has to continue to take an important role in shaping and voicing local identity, whether those are the identities of neighborhoods or the city as a whole.'

Q: How optimistic are you about the future of cities?

A: 'I'm hopeful because of one thing. When I've talked to younger people about authenticity, they are very attuned to the cultural value of authenticity and they understand what it means to build a fake city. … I'm hopeful young people will take from the book the idea of authenticity and demand that their city pursues authenticity rather than mindless change or up-scaling that will prevent them from putting down roots.'

Robert Behre may be reached at 937-5771 or by fax at 937-5579. His e-mail address is rbehre@postandcourier.com, and his mailing address is 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403.