Urban Patterns Suburban Challenges Defining Urban Areas the

Urban Patterns

Suburban Challenges

Defining Urban Areas • “the city” – municipality = political entity – common govt, services, laws – annexation • Adding areas to a political entity • “urban areas” – Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) – city plus suburbs • Chicago pop. = 2. 7 million – 3. 6 million (1950) • “Chicagoland” = 9. 9 million – 5. 5 million (1950) – LDCs differentiation unclear

Intraregional migration in the United States • Migration from “city” to suburban areas – “suburbanization” • accelerated post-WWII • biggest migration flow in the U. S.

Density Gradient

Intraregional Migration in the United States

Suburbanization Push Factors • urban decay – see inner city problems • the “other” (racism) – new immigrants • Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians – African-Americans • blockbusting • school desegregation

Push Factors

Suburbanization (summarized) Push Factors • urban decay • the “other” (racism) – new immigrants • Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians – African-Americans • blockbusting • school desegregation Pull factors • government policies

Government Policies encourage suburbanization – accelerated post-WWII = encouraged by government = mortgage tax deduction • favors homeownership over renting – returning veterans • housing shortage = govt. programs » FHA = lower down payment, longer mortgages » GI Bill = low interest loans, education costs covered • benefits mostly whites…. minorities excluded (redlining)

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors • urban decay • the “other” (racism) – new immigrants • Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians – African-Americans • blockbusting • school desegregation Pull factors • government policies • automobiles

Americans love their cars! – becomes a “necessity” • Government builds highways (1950 s/Pres. Eisenhower) • Allows people to relocate farther from work/CBD – Driveways, garages – Shopping malls surrounded by huge parking lots – strip malls, drive thrus • American culture and urban morphology, functional zonation becomes shaped by the automobile!

Levittown, NY = 1 st prefab suburb

Peripheral/Galactic Model (1997) • Harris adds ring highway to multiple nuclei model – – newer idea, car dependent, urban sprawl decentralization of the CBD Industrial shift out of city development along ring highway (the “periphery”) • Edge cities surrounding the central city – more jobs than bedrooms, clustering of services, retail that rivals/competes with CBD (Schaumburg, Rosemont, Oakbrook, Deerfield/Northbrook) – Now some edge cities have many “urban” problems • Low paying industrial jobs = higher poverty, lower performing schools, crime (although lower than the 1990 s, gangs, new immigrants, pollution) • see Aurora

Edge Cities

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors • urban decay • the “other” (racism) – new immigrants • Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians – African-Americans • blockbusting • school desegregation Pull factors • government policies • automobiles • baby boom (1946 – 1964) – demographic bulge – high birthrates – space needed for kids

Baby Boom

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors • urban decay • the “other” (racism) – new immigrants • Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians – African-Americans • blockbusting • school desegregation Pull factors • • government policies automobiles baby boom (1946 – 1964) suburban lifestyle – – – space (yards, parks, green) good schools low taxes low crime “American dream” • or is it “homogeneity”?

Pull Factors

• James E. Vance (1964) • Flusty and Dear (1998) • Growth of suburbs Urban Realms Postmodern Model – New transportation corridors – Suburbs now more independent of CBD – Suburban/regional centers develop that are unique and completely independent • Edge cities do all that CBD does • sometimes with unique focus • Los Angeles – – – CBD = finance, law Hollywood = entertainment Rodeo Drive = retail Long Beach = port Santa Monica, Venice = beach communities

Urban Realms of Los Angeles

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? • Dependence on the automobile – Lack of public transit • Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) – Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile – Reduces congestion » Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area • Urban Sprawl – Development competes for prime agricultural land – Enormous carbon footprint

Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl (Greenbelts designed to limit in the UK)

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? • Dependence on the automobile – Lack of public transit • Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) – Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile – Reduces congestion » Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area • Urban Sprawl – Development competes for prime agricultural land – Enormous carbon footprint • Placelessness (uniform landscape)

Suburban “placelessness”

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? • Dependence on the automobile – Lack of public transit • Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) – Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile – Reduces congestion » Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area • Urban Sprawl – Development competes for prime agricultural land – Enormous carbon footprint • Placelessness (uniform landscape) • Growing poverty – Industry brings industrial problems to suburbs – Great inversion? ? ? • Read this: ttp: //www. forbes. com/sites/petesaunders 1/2016/04/04/15/#407 c 2 eb 351 b 5 • Outskirts/Suburbs = industrial poor, Central city = wealthy

A Possible Solution? “New Urbanism” • Suburban areas that reflect urban walkability • Higher density housing, anti-auto, walkable • More varied, connected and “enjoyable” communities • Reduces urban sprawl and carbon footprint of suburbia – Mass transit links CBD with denser suburban living

New Urbanism

Borchert’s Model – Sail-Wagon Epoch (1790– 1830) trade dominated by ocean vessels • Links American urbanization to the dominant transportation mode of the era (epoch) with sails, inland trade is slow with wagon trains. Coastal cities become important (NY, Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah) – Iron Horse Epoch (1830– 70), characterized by impact of steam engine technology, and development of steamboats and regional railroad networks, trade and population moves inland along rivers and canals (Cincinnati, Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, St. Louis) – Steel Rail Epoch (1870– 1920), dominated by the development of long haul railroads and a national railroad network (Chicago) – Auto-Air-Amenity Epoch (1920– 70), with growth in the gasoline combustion engine, growth completely disconnected from waterways. Movement toward warmer climates. Flexibility of auto (and air) travel. (suburbs, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles) – Satellite-Electronic-Jet Propulsion (1970–? ), also called the High. Technology Epoch. International connections dominate (Miami, San Francisco, Houston, Washington DC, NYC, LA) • Cities that emerged in earlier stages may stay relevant or fade if they don’t adjust to new situation (NYC vs. Detroit……. Chicago? ? )

• Gateway cities: cities that serve as an entry point to a different civilization, new world or frontier

Gateway Cities

• Gateway cities: cities that serve as an entry point to a different civilization, new world or frontier • examples include: – St. Louis, San Francisco, New York, Istanbul, Miami, Honolulu, Tokyo