Gathering Places: The Role of Small Businesses in Urban Community Vitality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55414/ap.v41i3.1557Keywords:
Neighborhoods, Places, Urban planning, Community life, Sense of communityAbstract
In this critical review we comment on two books that examine the conditions that promote community vitality in urban contexts: Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs, and The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg. Based on urban planning experiences, community life is more likely to flourish in small-block neighborhoods, with high population density and a mix of old and new buildings. In addition, those places that facilitate accidental meetings
between neighbors normally act as catalysts for integration and a sense of belonging in the community. To illustrate it,
with the case of a particularly active avenue in the city of Seville, we show the confluence of social factors and urban design in achieving high levels of community vitality. The case highlights the community value of small businesses and behavior settings.
References
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Jacobs, J. (1992). The death and life of great American cities. Vintage.
Maya-Jariego, J., González-Tinoco, E. & Muñoz-Alvis, A. (2023). Frecuentar lugares de barrios colindantes incide en el sentido psicológico de comunidad: estudio de caso en la ciudad de Sevilla (España). Apuntes de Psicología, 41(3), 137-151. https://doi.org/10.55414/ap.v41i3.1550
Oldenburg, R. (1997). The great good place: Cafés, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community. Da Capo Press.
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Wellman, B. (2001). Physical place and cyberplace: The rise of personalized networking. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 25(2), 227-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.00309
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