Unit 6-Non-textbook vocab

site factors

the physical, inherent characteristics of a specific location—such as climate, landforms, soil, and water resources

situation factors

location-specific, external factors relating to a place’s relative location, accessibility, and connectivity to surrounding areas

World Cities

a dominant,, international urban center that acts as a primary node in the global economic, financial, and cultural network

Boomburb

a rapidly growing, incorporated suburban city with over 100,000 residents that is not the major city of its metropolitan area

Exurbs

a prosperous, low-density residential community located beyond the suburbs on the metropolitan fringe

Bid-Rent theory

explains that land value and demand decrease as distance from the Central Business District (CBD) increases

Infilling

he process of developing vacant, bypassed, or underutilized land parcels within existing urban or suburban areas to increase density

infrastructure

he fundamental, physical, and organizational structures—such as roads, bridges, water supply, power grids, and communication networks—necessary for a society or city to function, grow, and support economic development

Mixed land use

urban planning that blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses into one space, fostering walkable, high-density, and sustainable communities

Transportation-Oriented Development

an urban planning strategy focusing dense, walkable, mixed-use communities (residential, commercial, office) within a 10-minute walk (approx. 0.5 miles) of high-quality public transit stations

Smart growth policies

urban planning strategies designed to curb urban sprawl by promoting sustainable, high-density, and mixed-use development

New urbanism

an urban design movement and planning strategy originating in the 1980s that combats suburban sprawl by creating walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods

Greenbelts

a policy-based, designated area of open land—such as parks, agriculture, or wildlands—surrounding urban centers that is protected from development

Slow-growth cities

urban areas that implement planning policies to deliberately slow the pace of development and population growth.

De facto segregation

racial or ethnic separation that happens "in fact" or in reality, rather than by legal requirement

Quantitative Data

information that is measured, counted, or expressed in numerical form, allowing for statistical analysis and objective comparison

Qualitative Data

non-numerical information describing the characteristics, perceptions, and experiences of places, cultures, and human behaviors

Disamenity Zones

the poorest, most neglected parts of a city, often lacking basic services like water, electricity, and sanitation

Zones of Abandonment

an urban area or neighborhood that has been deserted or severely depopulated due to economic decline, disinvestment, or environmental hazards

Squatter settlements

unplanned, informal residential areas, typically in developing city peripheries, where inhabitants have no legal claim to the land

inclusionary zoning

local government regulations requiring or incentivizing developers to set aside a specific percentage of new, market-rate housing units for low-to-moderate-income households

remediation

the process of cleaning up, treating, or reversing environmental contamination in soil, groundwater, or surface water to protect human health and restore ecosystems

Urban growth boundaries

regional, legally mandated zoning lines separating urbanized areas from surrounding rural land, designed to curb urban sprawl and protect agricultural/natural areas

brownfields

abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination