Chapter 7&8 Summary

In these two chapters Jane Jacobs argues the value of diversity in big cities. She argues that the larger a city is the more diversity that is present. According to Jacobs whenever there is a city or area that has an abundance of variety in its commerce, you will find that that area also has diversity in other areas, such as cultural and religious diversity. Jacobs believes that everything in cities has uses and the people that inhabit and visit the area are called its users. There are places that have primary and secondary uses and both play vital roles in the City and the way it runs. Places that have primary uses are those that draw people to the place on their own such as offices and people’s homes. Places that have secondary are those that serve the people that are drawn by the primary use places such as delis and drug stores.