Urban Geography Flashcards

Class Overview

  • The class covers urban geography topics:
    • Models of urban development.
    • Poverty.
    • Housing issues.
  • Test:
    • Scheduled for Thursday.
    • Review session will be held in the days before the test.

Key Concepts

  • Food Deserts:
    • Definition: Areas with limited access to fresh food.
    • Location: Often in low-income neighborhoods.
    • Example: Atlanta
      • Approximately one in four people reside in a food desert.
      • Fresh food options are limited.
  • Gentrification:
    • Definition: Developers purchase and renovate declining neighborhoods.
    • Impact: Often displaces existing residents.
    • Example: Transformation of Techwood in Atlanta.
      • Went from a rough housing project to upscale homes.
  • Urban Sprawl:
    • Definition: Expansion of urban areas into surrounding regions.
    • Consequence: Often leads to environmental issues.
      • Deforestation.
      • Increased pollution.
    • Example: Atlanta
      • Cited as a prime example due to its extensive interstate system.
  • Galactic City Model:
    • Description: Urban areas characterized by edge cities and a beltway system.
    • Example: Atlanta
      • Showcases both advantages and problems.
      • Problems include urban sprawl.

Housing and Segregation Issues

  • Redlining:
    • Definition: Discriminatory practice by banks.
    • Action: Refuse loans to residents in certain neighborhoods.
    • Basis: Often based on racial demographics.
    • Impact: Long-term economic disadvantages for communities of color.
  • Blockbusting:
    • Definition: Real estate tactic.
    • Action: Agents encourage homeowners to sell properties quickly.
    • Reason: Perceived declines in neighborhood status.
    • Impact: Decreased property values.
  • Disamenity Zones:
    • Description: Areas suffering from neglect and lack of services.
    • Cause: Low taxation and poor economic conditions.
    • Consequences:
      • Higher crime rates.
      • Lower quality of life.

Poverty and Its Impacts

  • Generational Poverty:
    • Definition: Poverty persists across generations.
    • Cause: Systemic barriers make it difficult to escape.
    • Impact: Single mothers are particularly affected.
      • Struggle to balance work and childcare.
  • Feminization of Poverty:
    • Definition: Women, especially single mothers, are disproportionately represented among the poor.

Environmental Concerns

  • Urban Blight:
    • Description: Areas characterized by decay and neglect.
    • Consequences:
      • Lower property values.
      • Reduced quality of life for residents.
  • Brownfields:
    • Definition: Polluted properties that are often abandoned.
    • Requirement: Require cleanup before redevelopment.
    • Impacts:
      • Pose environmental hazards.
      • Limit urban development.