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) • Area of influence – city plus suburbs • Chicago pop. = 2. 7 million – 3. 6 million (1950) • “Chicagoland” = 9. 5 million – 5. 5 million (1950) – LDCs differentiation between “the city” and the “metro area” is unclear
Local government fragmentation • Existence of multiple layers of local govt. • Cons – – City Township County Special districts • • • Health Library Parks/nature Public safety Water/sanitary Other • Illinois has most govt. units of any state ≈ 7, 000 – Duplicative/costly • No economies of scale – Inequitable spending • Per pupil educ. $ – Zoning • Easy zoning – Urban sprawl • Strict zoning – Can exclude groups • Pros – More local control and decision-making
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
Density Gradient
Intraregional Migration in the United States
Suburbanization (review) 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 (based on Detroit) 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
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
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
Urban Realms of Los Angeles
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 – Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth”
Urban Sprawl
Urban Sprawl
Urban Sprawl
Urban Sprawl vs. Smart Growth (Greenbelts = Smart Growth)
Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? • Dependence on the automobile – Tremendous infrastructure required (highways, roads, etc) • Traffic/congestion, road rage – 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 – Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth” • Placelessness (uniform landscape)
Suburban “placelessness”
Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? • Dependence on the automobile – Tremendous infrastructure required (highways, roads, etc) • Traffic/congestion, road rage – 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 – Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth” • 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 • Incorporates mixed-use zoning – Businesses, residential clustered together • More diverse, connected and “enjoyable” communities • Reduces urban sprawl and carbon footprint of suburbia – Mass transit (commuter trains) link CBD with denser suburban living • See American Makeover episodes (link posted on website)
New Urbanism
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