(Module 48) The Internal Structure of Cities

Concentric Zone Model:

  • Developed by EW Burgress.

  • Organized in 5 Rings that show different residential zones from the CBD.

Rings of the Concentric Zone Model:

  1. Businesses in the CBD.

  2. Zone of Transition: landlords allowing homes to deteriorate while anticipating expansion of CBD.

  3. Better neighborhoods of working class.

  4. Middle class families in the suburbs.

  5. Commuter’s Zone.

  • At the time of development, there was little public transportation from the outer zone, most transport used to be via private car. Wealthy landowners used to live in Zone 5 but now Low Income and ‘Shanty Towns’ make up that area.

Limitations:

  • Assumes there are no topographical barriers.

  • Fails to account for complexity of modern cities and non-American city layouts.

Hoyt/Sector Model:

  • Developed by Homer Hoyt.

  • Focuses on transportation and communication as the drivers of the city’s layout.

Parts of the Hoyt Model:

  1. CBD.

  2. Light and manufacturing industry; close to railroads.

  3. Low-income housing between manufacturing.

  4. Middle-income housing.

  5. Wealthy housing.

Hoyt vs. Concentric Zone Model:

  • Both models are marked by outward growth.

  • Higher income moves outwards, lower income moves to newly vacated areas (primarily seen in the concentric zone model).

    • Wealthy moves into cleaners, newer suburbs; Lower-income move into older, vacated housing closer to CBD.

  • Both models show expansion outward from the CBD.

Multiple Nuclei Model:

  • Developed by Chauncy Harris and Edward Ullman.

  • Residential districts are organized around many nodes rather than a singular CBD.

  • Combines ideas of Concentric and Hoyt model but around many nodes.

  • Each node has separate functions and developed independently due to ease of transportation.

Galactic Peripheral Model:

  • The CBD remains central but surrounded by suburbs with office parks and industries scattered by metro expressway systems.

  • 1960s less centralized system.

  • CBD surrounded by urban sprawl.

Bid-Rent Theory:

  • High-cost residences at both near CBD and at edges.

    • Near the CBD; people pay high prices for short commute times, access to jobs, culture services.

    • Near the edges; people pay high prices for large homes/land, better privacy, better environment, schools.

Gentrification: Displacement of lower income residents by higher income residents as an area/neighborhood improves.

  • Ex: Low-income families forces out of government/affordable housing due to development of ‘better’ neighborhoods.

  • Often decreases amount of affordable housing.

Griffin Ford Model:

  • Latin America

  • Concentric and Radial Zones

  • 2 Part CBD:

    • Markets & everyday goods.

    • Entertainment, Business, Venues.

Disamenity Sector: Area where extremely low-income people live.

Southeast Asian City Model:

  • Around a port instead of CBD.

    • Commercial zones surrounding.

  • Mixed-use land; many economic activities and residential housing.

Sub-Saharan Model:

  • 3 CBDs:

    • Traditional CBD: Zone of Traditional 1 Story Buildings.

    • Colonial CBD: Informal markets where commerce is conducted.

  • Mixed Neighborhoods:

    • Mining/Commercial Zones.

    • Shanty Towns due to unchecked in-migration.