© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 13: Urban Patterns The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? CBD land uses –Central business districts (CBDs) –Retail services in the CBD Retailers with a high threshold Retailers with a high range Retailers serving downtown workers –Business services in the CBD

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. CBD of Charlotte, NC Figure 13-1

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? Competition for land in the CBD –High land costs Some of the most expensive real estate in the world = Tokyo Intensive land use –Underground areas Skyscrapers –“Vertical geography”

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? Activities excluded from the CBD –Lack of industry in the CBD Modern factories require large, one-story parcels of land –Lack of residents in the CBD Push and pull factors involved CBDs outside North America –Less dominated by commercial considerations.