Spatial Organization of Cities: Urbanization, Suburbanization, and Emerging Land-Use Forms

Objective and Essential Learning

  • Goal: Explain the specific processes that initiate and drive urbanization and suburbanization.

  • Urban Spatial Outcomes: Megacities and metacities are distinct outcomes of urbanization. These are increasingly found in countries within the periphery and semi-periphery.

  • New Land-Use Forms: The processes of suburbanization, sprawl, and decentralization have led to the creation of new forms, including edge cities, exurbs, and boomburbs.

  • Resulting Challenges: These new developments bring unique challenges to modern urban planning and societal structures.

Spatial Outcomes of Urbanization: Megacities and Metacities

  • Megacity Definition: A metropolitan area with a population of more than 1010 million people.     * Statistics (2018): There were 3333 megacities globally.     * Distribution: About half of these megacities are located in the periphery and semi-periphery areas of Asia and Africa.     * Drivers of Growth:         * Natural Increase: Birth rates that are over the replacement level.         * Migration: Rural-to-urban migration patterns.     * Consequences: Growth is often unplanned, resulting in the development of squatter settlements.

  • Metacity Definition: A metropolitan area with a population of more than 2020 million people.

Urban Sprawl and Decentralization

  • Decentralization Process: With increased access to the automobile, roads and commercial developments have expanded outward from the city core.

  • Urban Sprawl: This outward expansion is often unplanned, which results in poor infrastructure and weak connections over time.

  • Regional Prevalence: This phenomenon is particularly common in United States metropolitan areas.

  • Resulting Land-Use Forms: Sprawl and decentralization have led to the birth of:     * Suburbs     * Edge Cities     * Boomburbs     * Exurbs

Suburbanization: Foundations and Development

  • Definition: The process of people moving, typically from cities, to residential areas located on the outskirts of cities.

  • Characteristics of Suburbs:     * Connectivity: They form communities connected to the city for employment and services but remain geographically decentralized.     * Density and Diversity: Suburbs are generally less densely populated and less ethnically diverse than central urban cities.

  • Early Technological Drivers: Advancements in transportation, such as streetcars and trolleys, allowed workers to live further than walking distance from their places of employment.

Post-WWII Suburban Expansion in America

  • Growth Factors: Several historical factors converged after World War II to increase the prevalence of suburbs:     * Economic Advancements: A period of general prosperity.     * The GI Bill: This legislation provided veterans with low down payment terms and long-term mortgages.     * Automobiles: Increased production and ownership of personal vehicles.     * Federal Aid Highway Act: Infrastructure development that facilitated long-distance commuting.

  • Construction Methods: Neighborhoods were developed using tract or prefabricated (prefab) housing that could be constructed rapidly.

Case Study: The Lincoln Homes Prefabricated Models

  • General Features: Designs often featured contemporary ranch styling, low-pitched rooflines, attached garages, and large windows (aluminum casement or wood awning type).

  • The Patricia (1200 Plan Series):     * Size: 24′×40′24' \times 40' totaling 984 sq. ft.984\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: Features a glass-walled living room and studio ceiling. Large bedrooms and a utility section in the kitchen.     * Cost (Shell): With Gable Roof and Bay is $4,295\$4,295. Total package including plumbing, wiring, and heating is $8,460\$8,460.

  • The Marge:     * Size: 25′×32′25' \times 32' totaling 792 sq. ft.792\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: Features a 33-foot roof overhang and modern exterior styling.     * Cost (Shell): $3,545\$3,545. Total package is $6,959\$6,959.

  • The Janice (Plan 731):     * Size: 28′×42′28' \times 42' totaling 1,116 sq. ft.1,116\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: Children's rooms are separated from living and dining areas; features a guest closet at the front entry.     * Cost (Shell): $3,695\$3,695. Total package is $7,350\$7,350.

  • The Marie (Plan 407):     * Size: 24′×36′24' \times 36' totaling 864 sq. ft.864\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: Low-cost home with three bedrooms, a 1717-foot living room, and walk-in closets.     * Cost (Shell): $2,945\$2,945. Total package is $6,047\$6,047.

  • The Ruth (Plan 1001):     * Size: 28′×65′28' \times 65' totaling 1,232 sq. ft.1,232\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: Suited for smaller families; bay can be moved to enlarge the living room. Optional breezeway and garage.     * Cost (Shell): $2,845\$2,845. Total package is $5,594\$5,594 (excluding breezeway/garage).

  • The Susan (Plan 821/801):     * Size: 37′4′′×44′37'4'' \times 44' totaling 1,371 sq. ft.1,371\,\text{sq. ft.} of living area.     * Design: A split-level home specialized for sloping lots. Features a recreation area and choice of Gable or Hip roof.     * Cost (Shell): $4,440\$4,440. Total package is $9,044\$9,044.

Modern Urban Land-Use Forms

  • Edge Cities:     * Location: Situated on the outskirts of a larger city.     * Functions: Contains commercial centers, office space, and retail complexes. It provides amenities typically found in urban centers.     * Employment vs. Residence: Mostly focused on economic activities rather than residential living.     * History: Developed primarily over the past 3030 years.

  • Boomburbs:     * Definition: A suburb that has grown rapidly into a large, sprawling city with more than 100,000100,000 residents.     * Character: Usually comprised of planned communities that have merged. It "feels" suburban but shares the population size of an urban city.

  • Exurbs:     * Location: Communities on the outside edge of traditional suburbs; referred to as "exurban."     * Function: Operates like a suburb but is more rural and less connected to the central city core.     * Demographics: Low-density residential communities that may include wealthy estates or small rural towns; typically exhibits little diversity.

Challenges of Decentralization

  • Placelessness: A perceived lack of unique identity or culture within sprawling developments.

  • Environmental Impact: Heavy dependence on automobiles results in increased pollution and traffic congestion.

  • Economic Disparity:     * Economic Exclusivity: Suburban growth is often economically exclusive.     * Urban Decay: Those remaining in the city core are often in poverty and cannot provide the tax base necessary to sustain the urban center.     * Investment Imbalance: Government investment has historically favored continued suburban growth, leading to a significant lack of investment in inner cities.