Manhattanhenge and the Quiet Beauty of Creative Urban Planning

Four times a year the setting sun is visible in the midst of Manhattan's skyscrapers in an effect New Yorkers call “Manhattanhenge.” It is one of those hidden jewels of city living that is only possible through a decision made by urban planners many years ago.

While researching Beyond Diversity, I remember reading extensively about the notorious work of a planner named Robert Moses who almost single-handedly cemented the practice of structural racism in urban planning through his work and the decades of others who were inspired to emulate his choices.

It is easy to forget just how much of the world we inhabit today was shaped by decisions made decades (or even longer) ago by people like these planners. And for far too long, they lacked any sort of diversity, aside from a handful of rare exceptions. One example is showcased in the underdog documentary story of another planner named Jane Jacobs who managed to stop some of Moses' worst ideas from ever happening. Through the lens of time, her efforts were nothing short of heroic and are now inspiring a renewed focus in making the planning industry more diverse. As this happens, perhaps we might regularly experience more hidden delights like Manhattanhenge. Or at the very least stop designing highways to be built through the cultural centers of cities.