Mixed use

Eyes on the street

In The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs' foundational text for what would come to be called urbanism, she introduces the reader to the idea of "eyes on the street." The safest and healthiest neighborhoods, in Jacobs' research, are not those that are necessarily wealthy, purposefully designed, or heavily policed. They are instead those that are always in active use - whether by residents relaxing and socializing or by visitors to shops and restaurants. The presence of so many potential witnesses - the "eyes on the street" - is a natural deterrent to crime and other nuisance behaviors.

The benefits of mixed use go beyond this, though. Access to jobs, shops, and services within walking distance helps make these critical functions accessible to more people, more of the time. Under the current suburban development model, picking up a few groceries, a prescription, and dropping kids off at school will likely entail driving a double-digit number of miles - and those same kids will be unable to independently shop, get jobs, or visit friends until they are nearly grown.