Key Issue 3: Why do Inner Cities have Distinctive Problems?
• I. Inner-city physical problems• A. Deterioration process• B. Urban renewal
• II. Inner-city social problems• A. Underclass• B. Culture of poverty
• III. Inner-city economic problems• Lack of money and services
Inner City Physical Problems
• Major: poor housing conditions• 1. Process of deterioration• 2. What is filtering?• Process of dividing large houses into several
dwellings for lower-income residents.• Owners try to collect rent…• Repairs on home outprice the rent…• Owners abandon the property.
Inner City Social Problems
• Culture of Poverty
• underclass
• lack of job skills
• homelessness
• Crime
• Segregation – Racial and Ethnic
Dayton, Ohio -- Inner City
Fig. 13-17: Drug-related arrests (left) have been concentrated in the inner-west side of the city. In the 2001 mayoral election, votes for Rhine McLin concentrated in the African-American section of the city.
Annexation
• Legally adding land to a city
• Historically small communities surrounding a city wanted to be annexed
• (access to services)
• Today many small jurisdictions prefer to remain apart from the city
• (city taxes are high)
Growth of Chicago
Fig. 13-18: Chicago grew rapidly in the 19th century through annexation. In the 20th century the major annexation was for O’Hare Airport.
Highest density Highest density of student of student housinghousing
- Single-family homes divided into apartments
- Increasingly marked by mixed use apartment complexes
This section of Guadalupe St. is known as “the Drag” What type of businesses occupy the lower levels of these buildings?
KI 4: Problems of the ‘burbs• The peripheral model
• Density gradient• Cost of suburban sprawl• Suburban segregation
• Transportation and suburbanization• Motor vehicles• Public transportation
• Local government fragmentation• Metropolitan government• Growing smart
Peripheral Model of Urban Areas
Fig. 13-19: The central city is surrounded by a ring road, around which are suburban areas and edge cities, shopping malls, office parks, industrial areas, and service complexes.
• Density Gradient
• Shows that the number of houses per land unit diminishes as distance from CBD increases.
Cleveland, Ohio, 1900–1990
Fig. 13-20: The density gradient in Cleveland shows the expansion of dense population outward from the city center over time. In 1990, population dispersed over a wider area with less variation in density than before.
What is sprawl?
• Progressive spread of development over landscapes.
• Differs in US and Europe
• UK incorporates greenbelts
Suburban Development in the U.S. and U.K.
Fig. 13-21: New housing in the U.K. is likely to be in planned new towns, while in the U.S. growth occurs in discontinuous developments.
Suburban Segregation-
• Historically it was more vertical separation
• poor people in upper floors/attics and basements
• wealthier on ground floors• Once people spread out more into suburbs
—more separation by class, race and lifestyle
Transportation and Suburbanization
• Suburbs only exist because of advances in transportation.
• Cities crowded because everyone had to walk.
• Railroads and later subways gave some people access to commute.
• Streetcar suburbs built in 19th century.
Motor Vehicles
• Suburban explosion of 20th century result of availability of cars and trucks.
• 95% of all trips within US cities now down by car.• US government encouraged this by providing 90% cost
of US highway system.• Lower fuel prices than other parts of world.• ¼ land is roads in cities/suburbs• 1/3 high priced land in CBD’s parking lots and roads.
Public Transportation
• Most commuters use public transportation in and out of CBD’s during rush hour.
• Early 20th century– US had 30,000 miles of railways and trolleys for commuters.
• Today- only a few hundred miles remain.• Why? • GM (General Motors)
• GM bought streetcar companies and replaced them with buses.
• More flexible service.
• Buses declining in most US cities today.
Something that’s increasing??
• Rapid Transit lines.
• Fixed heavy rail (subways)Fixed light rail
• Los Angeles, San Diego, Buffalo, Baltimore, Austin
Public transportation outside of USA
• Extensive networks in Western Europe and Japan
• Still new construction and improvements.
• Small cities booming with construction of transportation– subways, high speed rail
Public Transport in Brussels
Fig. 13-22: Brussels illustrates the integration of heavy rail and light rail in public transport.
Local Government Fragmentation• example of Long Island, New York• Size: 90 miles• 800 local governments• 2 counties• 13 towns• 95 villages• 127 school districts• 500 special districts (garbage collection, etc)•
What is Smart Growth??
• Goal: stop or curb sprawl, reduce traffic congestion, reverse inner city decline.
• Develop, but also protect rural land and wildlife.
• Legislation and regulations help this preservation.