The article focuses on the environment and its importance for man and his socialization. The environment is a bearer of cultural values and acts as a factor of interaction. For a person, public space and its characteristics play an important role. Public space influences
emotions and behavior. An important element of public space is urbanism and architecture, which influences feelings and how one feels in certain places. Given that the majority of the population currently lives in urban settlements, the characteristics of urban public spaces and the  perception of urban  public spaces and its rules  are  important. Due to industrialization, specific urban spaces, known as brownfields, are created, which also modify behavior and affect feelings of safety. The Chicago School and its sociology of the city were the first to deal with the relationship between man and the elements of the environment. This school pointed out the influence of marginality and ethnic segregation, dealt with juvenile delinquency, drug problems, alcoholism and its effects on crime. The study points to a number of theories dealing with the causes of crime in relation to the environment, ie spatial crime. Another issue that the
Chicago School has dealt with and which is still very topical is the so-called high-risk neighborhoods, referred to as excluded localities. These localities strongly influence spatial segregation and residential mobility and feelings of safety. The case comparative study points to the development of the urban environment from the point of view of comparing selected industrial centers that have a very close historical development. The way of solving brownfields and crime is monitored. The global population explosion places demands on urban spaces and their adaptation to new requirements. Gentrification, ie the adaptation of brownfields for high-income residents,
offers a solution, which significantly affects feelings of safety and the level of crime.

Keywords: crime, perception, environment, public space, socialization