Part 6/10:
The role of stoops in fostering community has been the subject of academic study for decades. Urbanist Jane Jacobs noted that gatherings on stoops created a sense of "eyes on the street," promoting a safer environment and reducing the need for police presence. In her influential work, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," Jacobs emphasized the importance of sidewalks and their surrounding ecosystems in fostering social bonds and casual public interactions. Stoops, with their unique charm, transform New York’s sidewalks into dynamic community spaces.