HGAP Unit 6 Vocabulary

Post-modern architecture

An architectural style that emphasized breaking the rules of the rigid style of modern architecture

Site

A way of describing where a place is based on the physical characteristics of the surrounding area

Situation

A way of describing where a place is based on its relationships with the surrounding areas

Urbanization

Population shift from rural to urban areas

Boomburbs

A suburban city that is rapidly growing, is as large as a major city, but retains its suburban feel

Edge city

A relatively large urban area situated on the outskirts of a city, typically beside a major road

Exurbs

An area outside of the denser inner suburban area with economic and commuting connections to the metro area

Megacity

A large metropolitan area with a population higher than 10 million

Metacity

A large metropolitan area with a population higher than 20 million

Suburbanization

A population shift from central urban areas into suburbs

World cities

A large city that is very important to the global economy

Primate city

The largest city in its country or region, disproportionately larger than any others in the urban hierarchy

Rank-size rule

The nth largest city in a given country will have 1/n of the population of the largest city in that country

Central Business District (CBD)

The main business and commercial area of a town or city

Gentrification

Renovating housing in low-income areas to increase the value, which may force original low-income residents out

Disamenity zone

The very poorest parts of cities, often not connected to city services and controlled by gangs

Environmental injustice

When marginalized groups face higher levels of environmental risk due to the actions of others

Urban renewal

The redevelopment of areas within a large city, involving the clearance of slums

Suburban Sprawl

The expansion of a city away from urban centers outward, leading to suburban development

Redlining

The now illegal practice of refusing to loan money to specific areas due to poverty

Brownfields

A former industrial or commercial site that is perceived to be environmentally contaminated

Public housing

Housing provided for people with low incomes, subsidized by the government

Range

The maximum distance that someone is willing to travel to receive a specific service

Threshold

The minimum number of people needed for a service to be worthwhile

Market area (or hinterland)

Geographic zone containing the people who are likely to purchase a firm’s goods or services

Infilling

New development that is placed on vacant or undeveloped land within an existing community

De facto segregation

racial segreation that happens organically instead of being enforced by law

Greenbelt

an area of open land around a city where development is prohibited

Mixed land use

that blends a combination of residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses that provides pedestrian connections

New urbanism

an urban design movement which promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types

Placelessness

when places begin to feel the same due to loss of cultural and historical ties

Slow-growth cities

cities that are actively trying to control their growth to promote sustainability

Smart growth

planned urban development that aims to reduce environmental effects

Walkability

a meaure of how friendly a city is to getting around by walking

Zoning practices

local laws that define which types of economic activities can take place in specific areas of a city

Combined statistical area (CSA)

an area with MSAs and µSAs that are close together and economically linked

Metropolitan statistical area (MSA)

a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area.

Micropolitan statistical area (µSA)

labor market areas in the United States centered on an urban cluster with a population at least 10,000 but less than 50,000

Blockbusting

real estate agents convincing people to sell houses because of minorities or poor people moving into the area and making money by reselling the property for a higher price

Council of government

cities and counties coming together for coordination and urban planning

Slum

a heavily populated area of a city where poor resident live in substandard homes

Squatter settlement

groups of house made out of cheap, non-traditional materials built on land not owned by the residents

Zone of abandonment

areas or neighborhoods where most people migrate away often due to lack of jobs

Greyfields

economically outdated real estate - named after the sea of ashphalt that often accompanies these sites