There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.” ― Jane Jacobs*
Silver Lake is a geographically small neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles – yet it retains a unique vibrancy and character amidst the mostly characterless sprawl of Southern California.
Why? The dedication of a community that cares about both design and community. If a new project is proposed, you will see the community organize to investigate, explore, and criticize the design – all in an effort to improve it and make it the best fit possible for the neighborhood. This organization and care about design and community is a constant, and has only increased with Silver Lake becoming an even more desirable place to live due to its neighborhood amenities, character, and geographical proximity to jobs.
Jane Jacobs’ quote could not better express the dedication residents have for Silver Lake. In 2021, Silver Lake will again face pressures on building more while simultaneously trying to balance design and community – providing new housing and jobs for residents within this vast metropolitan area.
Are we up to the challenge?
* About Jane Jacobs
The Death and Life of Great American Cities is quite possibly the most influential book on urban planning and cities, written by Jane Jacobs – a housewife and mother, who organized grassroots efforts to preserve neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village and SoHo New York City during the slum clearance efforts of the mid-twentieth century.
