Chicago, City of Shopping?
I think that both Malchik and Loerzel would agree that where one lives affects their life by defining where they go, who and what surrounds them, and how they interact with all of these attributes. Malchik focuses on commentating on the importance of walking in a community, but also how the lack of walkability has influenced American behaviors. For example, if someone lives in a gated community, they might grow used to the homogeneity of such and environment, thus limiting their world view. Loerzel also talks about the positive side of where one lives, community. Unlike the gated community Loerzol discusses the many different communities that were destroyed by the Eisenhower Express Way. These communities instead of serving to keep others out, made sure that those living within them had a positive familiar presence in the City. Infrastructure also has the ability to destroy such a community. Sidewalks help create human interactions, increasing social capital, but the opposite can be said about large streets, as is pointed out by Loerzel. These huge streets are a large threat to walking as they separate areas, prohibiting walking between them, ultimately acting in a similar manner to the previously mentioned gate in front of a gated community. The only way to reclaim this lost area, that I could think of, would be too walk there more often. If one increases demand for walking in these areas, then things may change, because at the end of the day the people in charge of these things only care about demand. What makes an area walkable is the amount of things to mentally or physically interact with on the street, because people love that type of enrichment, like shops or art, or even a bit of nature.
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I still want to create a map based on the areas of shopping that Chicago contains. I think one can tell from where people shop the general mood and culture of the surrounding areas. I was originally going to make it just about malls and markets but after being incredibly disappointed with the French Market I changed my mind. Places where people shop generally are nicer than the surrounding areas, and are also typically designed for walkability, making them great places to discover what the inhabitants of that neighborhood are like.
“But streetscapes and buildings that ignore our need for sensory variety cut against the grain of ancient evolutionary impulses for novelty and will likely not lead to comfort, happiness or optimal functionality for future human populations.” (Ellard)
I believe this quote represents a portion of what makes a walkable street, well, walkable. While it is important that the street has an easy way to walk on it to make it walkable, that is only half of the equation. I would argue that it is equally important that the street has a reason for one to be walking on it. Weather this is the smells of a bakery or the sight of people working inside a store, stimuli are needed to make a street interesting and walkable. This is also what makes the endless glass that is often found in some regions of the Loop feel like a labyrinth instead of a place one would want to walk.
“America has already exported nutrition-light junk food across the globe” (Malchik)
I viewed this quote with the question, “Who does this benefit?”. The answer is fairly obvious, it benefits the corporations who create the food. The economic motivation coupled with the implied pushing out that comes with chain restaurants reminded me of gentrification. A coupling of these two ideas would be like when a Whole Foods moves in, which is a topic we discussed at length in class.
“Walking is a complex interconnection of cognitive processes and sensory inputs.” (Malchik)
Malchik discusses how people in America often use cars instead of walking, even when it is not strictly necessary. But one of the most common reasons why people walk instead of drive is because they are shopping. Walking from store to store is seemingly a universal experience, that helps us become closer to our communities while enriching our minds.
