collage of images with families, a crowded sidewalk, and a farmer's market

Defining Neighborhoods

This course reviews the varying definitions of neighborhoods and examines methods for defining a physical basis and tangible meaning to neighborhoods based on the location of neighborhood centers, boundaries, and spatial extents.

Emily Talen
Taught By Emily Talen
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Course Info

  • Duration 8 video lessons (54 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2019
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Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 1 min
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Understanding Neighborhoods
    Chapter Duration 7 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    Historical Overview
    Chapter Duration 5 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    The Designed Neighborhood
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Neighborhoods Redefined
    Chapter Duration 8 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    Neighborhood Debates
    Chapter Duration 13 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    7.
    Getting the Neighborhood Back
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    8.
    Strategies for Planners
    Chapter Duration 7 mins

What You Will Learn

  • Understand the history of neighborhoods
  • Review alternative neighborhood definitions
  • Understand the debates surrounding neighborhoods
  • Review the steps required for neighborhood delineation

Course Description

Interconnection, localized identity, human scale, adjacency, access, the need for a graspable spatial unit to belong to—these are the regularities of urban experience that establish a durable foundation for the traditional concept of neighborhood. Neighborhoods are often defined by arbitrary lines on a map, lacking real meaning or power. This course reviews neighborhood-building strategies that are incremental, resident controlled, and planner enabled. This course reviews the varying definitions of neighborhoods and examines methods for defining a physical basis and tangible meaning to neighborhoods based on the location of neighborhood centers, boundaries, and spatial extents.

Learn these skills

  • Civic Engagement
  • Law and Policy
  • Urbanism
  • Walkability

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM credit.

AIA CES

This is 1 LU.

CNU-A

This course is approved for 1 CNU-A credit.

SACPLAN CPD

This course is approved for 1 SACPLAN CPD point. 

Meet Your Instructor

Emily Talen

Emily Talen

Emily Talen is Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago. Her research is devoted to urban design and urbanism, especially the relationship between the built environment and social equity.

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Course Reviews

4.39
Richard Roisman

Richard Roisman

Satisfied
Larry Schlossberg

Larry Schlossberg

Satisfied
A good introduction to the concept of neighborhood which is not generally well defined
Natu Davis

Natu Davis

Normal
You conveniently avoided talking about how the American landscape and urban typology is completely formed off of anti-black segregation and economic sabotage of black communities: the highway systems being deliberately built through commercial districts in black communities from coast to coast, the literal flooding of successful black communities (ie. Oscarville which is current day Lake Lanier, GA). Eminent Domain used to steal land and demolish black communities and businesses (dozens of examples of this, but notably Seneca Village - current day Central Park, Manhattan, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles - formerly Bruce's Beach.
Then there's redlining, white-flight, Cancer Alley in the Miss. Delta region, Tulsa Massacre, Red Summer 1919, zoning black housing over toxic dump sites and contaminated water sites...list goes on, but all culminates to the formation of American ghettos, which further spawned the horizontal expansion (suburbanization) of American cities. It's impossible to talk on such a subject without being honest on the history. You can't run from it. Now municipal governments want to talk about urban renewal and the "challenges" facing American cities, without acknowledging the deliberate sabotage of black Americans.
Stev Varghese Mathew

Stev Varghese Mathew

Extremely Satisfied

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