ABSTRACT
The dark, dirty, and unsafe characterization that many associate with American alleyways is a stark contrast from historical understandings of these in-between spaces. The City of Chicago, Illinois, is redeveloping alleys with sustainable materials to assist in the reduction of Urban Heat Island effects. As the "alley capital of America" Chicago is working on developing solutions for sustainability within urban planning. In contrast to the technical revisions of Chicago's alleys, the city of Phoenix, Arizona, is becoming known for its display of cultural murals in the urban infrastructure. In this developer-driven city, organizations such as Roosevelt Row, Local First, and others spearhead events that generate public attention while also highlighting the needs of the community regarding sustainability, culture, and local economics. Since alleys originally existed as energized and walkable environments from the Medieval era through the Industrial Revolution, theories behind the activation of public space are crucial to restoring value to these forgotten spaces.
