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Raquel Ramati
Raquel Ramati was director of New York City's Urban Design Group in the mid1970's to 1980. She played a crucial part in passing the city'zoning legislation to preserve the city's neighborhoods. Her thoughts on neighborhood planning are illustrated in the book, How To Save Your Own Street. She explains that:
"... the nation's urban policies have, in recent years, begun to emphasize the revitalization of existing neighborhoods. Streets are their core and countenance. Making sure that streets take on a new life is basic to this neighborhood strategy." (Ramati, XI)
"... neighborhoods and streets form existing resources. It is becoming clear that we all have a stake in making the most of what exists - conserving and improving upon and maintaining investments made over the years. Streets, not to mention the buildings edging them, are a reflection of such past expenditures. Caring for them, we conserve a reflection of ourselves, of our fellow citizens, and of a shared cultural heritage." (Ramati, XI)
"Our streets must be thought of as more than just roads. They are, in fact, multidimensional spaces with many overlapping functions.
"...streets are the 'living rooms' of their neighborhoods. They are centers for human interaction where people meet, where work, leisure, and shopping converge, where day and night mesh into a round-the-clock hub of life and communication." (Ramati, XII)
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