Urban Patterns

Suburban Challenges

Defining Urban Areas “urban areas” “the city” municipality = political entity common govt, services, laws annexation Adding areas to a political entity “urban areas” Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) Area of influence city plus suburbs Chicago pop. = 2.7 million 3.6 million (1950) “Chicagoland” = 9.5 million 5.5 million (1950) LDCs differentiation between “the city” and the “metro area” is unclear

Local government fragmentation Existence of multiple layers of local govt. City Township County Special districts Health Library Parks/nature Public safety Water/sanitary Other Illinois has most govt. units of any state ≈ 7,000 Cons Duplicative/costly No economies of scale Inequitable spending Per pupil educ. $ Zoning Easy zoning Urban sprawl Strict zoning Can exclude groups Pros More local control and decision-making

Intraregional migration in the United States Migration from “city” to suburban areas “suburbanization” accelerated post-WWII biggest migration flow in the U.S.

Density Gradient

Density Gradient

Intraregional Migration in the United States

Suburbanization (review) Push Factors urban decay see inner city problems the “other” (racism) new immigrants Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians African-Americans blockbusting school desegregation

Push Factors

Suburbanization (summarized) Push Factors Pull factors urban decay the “other” (racism) new immigrants Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians African-Americans blockbusting school desegregation government policies

Government Policies encourage suburbanization accelerated post-WWII = encouraged by government = mortgage tax deduction favors homeownership over renting returning veterans housing shortage = govt. programs FHA = lower down payment, longer mortgages GI Bill = low interest loans, education costs covered benefits mostly whites….minorities excluded (redlining)

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors Pull factors urban decay the “other” (racism) new immigrants Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians African-Americans blockbusting school desegregation government policies automobiles

Americans love their cars! becomes a “necessity” Government builds highways (1950s/Pres. Eisenhower) Allows people to relocate farther from work/CBD Driveways, garages Shopping malls surrounded by huge parking lots strip malls, drive thrus American culture and urban morphology, functional zonation becomes shaped by the automobile!

Levittown, NY = 1st prefab suburb

Peripheral/Galactic Model (1997) Harris adds ring highway to multiple nuclei model newer idea, car dependent, urban sprawl decentralization of the CBD Industrial shift out of city (based on Detroit) development along ring highway (the “periphery”) Edge cities surrounding the central city more jobs than bedrooms, clustering of services, retail that rivals/competes with CBD (Schaumburg, Rosemont, Oakbrook, Deerfield/Northbrook) Now some edge cities have many “urban” problems Low paying industrial jobs = higher poverty, lower performing schools, crime (although lower than the 1990s, gangs, new immigrants, pollution) see Aurora

Edge Cities

Edge Cities

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors Pull factors urban decay the “other” (racism) new immigrants Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians African-Americans blockbusting school desegregation government policies automobiles baby boom (1946 – 1964) demographic bulge high birthrates space needed for kids

Baby Boom

Suburbanization (continued) Push Factors Pull factors urban decay the “other” (racism) new immigrants Mexicans, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Appalachians African-Americans blockbusting school desegregation government policies automobiles baby boom (1946 – 1964) suburban lifestyle space (yards, parks, green) good schools low taxes low crime “American dream” or is it “homogeneity”?

Pull Factors

Pull Factors

Urban Realms Postmodern Model James E. Vance (1964) Flusty and Dear (1998) Growth of suburbs New transportation corridors Suburbs now more independent of CBD Suburban/regional centers develop that are unique and completely independent Edge cities do all that CBD does sometimes with unique focus Los Angeles CBD = finance, law Hollywood = entertainment Rodeo Drive = retail Long Beach = port Santa Monica, Venice = beach communities

Urban Realms of Los Angeles

Urban Realms of Los Angeles

Urban Realms of Los Angeles

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? Dependence on the automobile Lack of public transit Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile Reduces congestion Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area Urban Sprawl Development competes for prime agricultural land Enormous carbon footprint Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth”

Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl vs. Smart Growth (Greenbelts = Smart Growth)

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? Dependence on the automobile Tremendous infrastructure required (highways, roads, etc) Traffic/congestion, road rage Lack of public transit Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile Reduces congestion Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area Urban Sprawl Development competes for prime agricultural land Enormous carbon footprint Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth” Placelessness (uniform landscape)

Suburban “placelessness”

Suburbs Face Distinctive Challenges? Dependence on the automobile Tremendous infrastructure required (highways, roads, etc) Traffic/congestion, road rage Lack of public transit Advantages of public transit (makes city living attractive) Cheaper, less polluting, and more energy efficient than an automobile Reduces congestion Suited to rapidly transport large number of people to small area Urban Sprawl Development competes for prime agricultural land Enormous carbon footprint Attempts to limit urban sprawl = “smart growth” Placelessness (uniform landscape) Growing poverty Industry brings industrial problems to suburbs Great inversion??? Read this: ttp://www.forbes.com/sites/petesaunders1/2016/04/04/15/#407c2eb351b5 Outskirts/Suburbs = industrial poor, Central city = wealthy

A Possible Solution? “New Urbanism” “suburban” areas that reflect urban walkability Higher density housing, anti-auto, walkable Incorporates mixed-use zoning Businesses, residential clustered together More diverse, connected and “enjoyable” communities Reduces urban sprawl and carbon footprint of suburbia Mass transit (commuter trains) link CBD with denser suburban living See American Makeover episodes (link posted on website)

New Urbanism