CNU NYC Board Member Hannah Kosoff recently graduated from Columbia University with a Master’s in Urban Planning. She wrote the article below for Planetizen: in it she explores how the built environment shapes social connection, well-being, and everyday life, with a particular focus on suburban sprawl. Hannah pursues these questions through research, design, and filmmaking. She also manages the CNU NYC WhatsApp community, helping members stay connected and informed about chapter events and opportunities. Parts 2 & 3 are here and here.

A brief exploration of dating throughout history that highlights how the spaces where we live and move shape our social lives and relationships. The first in a three-part series on the relationship between urban design and romance, exploring how the way we build cities and mobility infrastructure affects modern dating.

THE DATING CRISIS

Nearly half of U.S. adults say dating has become harder over the past decade, and a majority of single adults report having difficulty finding someone to date.

The potential culprits to this dating crisis are endless: porn, dating apps, social media, financial insecurity, careerism. Name a modern ill and someone has blamed it for the dating crisis. But among that list of culprits, one suspect rarely makes the list: the way we build our cities.

We already know that urban design shapes mental health and social connection outcomes. Residents of walkable communities report stronger social ties, and urban sprawl has been linked to greater loneliness and psychological distress. Yet we know surprisingly little about how the built environment impacts dating and partner formation.

That thought drove my Columbia University thesis, “Planning for Love,” advised by Eric Klinenberg, in which I surveyed 152 adults under 30 across Miami to ask whether car-centric infrastructure shapes how people search for a romantic partner. This is the first in a three-part series unpacking what I found.

(continue reading at Planetizen)