Urban Land Use Models Notes

Importance of Cities

  • Cities are vital components of human geography, serving as centers for economic, political, and cultural power.
  • They have evolved as spaces of innovation and are projected to keep growing.

Key Concepts in Urban Geography

  • Urban Models: Frameworks to explain urban land use based on observations of real places.
    • Functional Zonation: Concept where different urban zones serve specific functions, resembling puzzle pieces that fit together to form a city.

Central Business District (CBD)

  • The CBD is typically the commercial center of a city, usually located near its physical center.
  • Key characteristics include:
    • High land value making non-commercial uses rare.
    • Common features in the CBD:
    • Tall buildings, underground facilities, especially in North America.
    • Historical buildings in Europe, often lower in height but rich in services.
  • Residential areas in the CBD often consist of high-density housing.

Classical Models of Urban Structure

Concentric Zone Model (Burgess Model)
  • Cities develop in a series of concentric rings around the CBD.
    • Zones include:
    1. Transition zone (industrial and poorer housing)
    2. Zone of working-class housing
    3. Zone of higher-quality housing
    4. Suburbs
    • Ring structure reflects density and housing quality changes as distance from the CBD increases.
Sector Model (Hoyt Model)
  • Land use develops in sectors that radiate from the CBD, resembling wedges rather than rings.
  • Key elements:
    • Sectors for low, medium, and high-income housing
    • A sector with transportation extends from the CBD outward, integrating industrial zones.
Multiple Nuclei Model (Harris-Ullman Model)
  • Suggests urban areas have multiple centers (nuclei) for different activities.
  • Each nucleus attracts specific functions, leading to diverse land uses throughout the city. Example centers:
    • Industrial zones near transport links or universities attracting amenities like restaurants.

Galactic City Model

  • Describes suburban growth with nodes of commercial activities emerging along highways, leading to edge cities.
  • Edge Cities: Areas with economic activity that have developed at suburban junctions, featuring office complexes and retail stores.

International Urban Models

Latin American Cities (Griffen-Ford Model)
  • Two-part CBD structure with a traditional market center and a modern center.
  • Housing quality decreases as distance from the CBD increases; public services often lacking in outer areas.
    • Emergence of shantytowns (favelas) in peripheral areas.
European Cities
  • Evolved from medieval structures; dense and mixed land uses.
  • Features:
    • Limited building height to preserve historic character.
    • More residents live in low-rise apartments in the CBD.
African Cities
  • Rapid growth post-colonization with traditional and colonial CBDs alongside informal economy zones.
  • Residential areas often ethnically designated with informal settlements on the periphery.
Islamic Cities
  • Center around a mosque with residential neighborhoods showing cultural adaptations like shaded areas and courtyards.
  • Streets are often winding to provide privacy and ease heat.
Southeast Asian Cities (McGee Model)
  • Centers around former colonial ports with market gardening belts and secondary commercial zones due to historical Chinese immigration.

Land Use Regulations

  • Zoning Ordinances: Define how land can be used. Categories include residential, commercial, and industrial.
  • Residential Zones: Vary in density and housing types, with inner city areas usually more densely populated.

Changes in Urban and Suburban Areas

  • Urban neighborhoods transform through filtering, where wealth changes lead to different residential uses.
  • Gated Communities: A response to security and aesthetics that control access and design within neighborhoods.
Economic Suburban Shift
  • Suburban businesses thrive, leading to commerce moving out of cities, impacting local job opportunities.

Political Organization of Cities

  • Municipalities: Local government entities responsible for urban services. Issues arise from fragmentation over multiple municipal governments.
  • Annexation & Incorporation: Processes of expanding city limits or forming new municipalities for better political representation.

Population Data in Urban Areas

  • Census data helps analyze urban demographics and needs. Data is segmented into census tracts, block groups, and blocks for detailed study.
  • Local governments also gather qualitative data to assess community feelings about urban development and changes.