Podcast
Questions and Answers
What term describes the new urban areas that have emerged due to decentralisation and suburbanisation?
What term describes the new urban areas that have emerged due to decentralisation and suburbanisation?
In which decade did the decline of central business districts (CBDs) begin in the United States?
In which decade did the decline of central business districts (CBDs) begin in the United States?
What major economic shift contributed to the decline of many Western cities in the latter half of the 20th century?
What major economic shift contributed to the decline of many Western cities in the latter half of the 20th century?
What coalition is formed by local governments, bankers, and real estate developers aiming to revitalize CBDs?
What coalition is formed by local governments, bankers, and real estate developers aiming to revitalize CBDs?
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Which strategy was NOT mentioned as a method for urban regeneration of CBDs?
Which strategy was NOT mentioned as a method for urban regeneration of CBDs?
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Larry Ford identified which of the following themes related to downtown change?
Larry Ford identified which of the following themes related to downtown change?
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What factor contributed to the migration of middle and upper-income people to the suburbs?
What factor contributed to the migration of middle and upper-income people to the suburbs?
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Which South African initiative aims to improve urban areas and combat decline?
Which South African initiative aims to improve urban areas and combat decline?
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What influence did the shift of retail and commercial activities from the CBD have on property values?
What influence did the shift of retail and commercial activities from the CBD have on property values?
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Which of the following was a significant characteristic of inner cities during their decline?
Which of the following was a significant characteristic of inner cities during their decline?
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Study Notes
Urban Decentralisation and the Decline of CBDs
- The shift from a monocentric to a polycentric city, driven by decentralization and suburbanization, has led to the emergence of edge cities (e.g., Sandton).
- This process has contributed to the decline of Central Business Districts (CBDs) in many cities, as retail and commercial activities move away from the city center.
- The decline of CBDs began in the 1950s in the United States and the 1980s in South Africa.
- The movement of middle and upper-income residents to suburbs, taking their purchasing power with them, accelerated this process.
- Retail and commerce followed the movement of income, causing higher vacancy rates, plummeting property values, and a decline in the tax base of CBDs.
- Deindustrialization played a significant role in the decline of many Western cities in the latter half of the 20th century.
- Inner cities became spaces characterized by poor maintenance, high crime rates, and a concentration of the urban poor and marginalized groups.
Urban Regeneration and Revitalization
- Attempts to revitalize or regenerate inner cities began in the late 1960s in the US.
- Urban regeneration efforts in South Africa have been ongoing since the 1990s.
- Local governments, bankers, financiers, real estate developers, and planners have joined forces to bring prosperity back to CBDs, forming what are known as urban growth machines.
- In South Africa, City Improvement Districts (CIDs) have been established to promote the revitalization of city centers.
- Various strategies for revitalizing/regenerating CBDs include:
- Historic preservation (architecture, important heritage sites).
- Downtown housing developments.
- Utilizing creative and cultural industries.
- Promoting nightlife and entertainment (night-time economy).
- Developing tourism (Disneyfication).
- Hosting major events and establishing convention centers.
- Organizing sporting events and creating sports facilities.
- Waterfront development.
- Larry Ford (2003) identifies four major themes of downtown change:
- Fun zones.
- Historic districts.
- Residential neighborhoods, reflecting the "back to the city" movement and gentrification.
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Description
This quiz explores the shift from monocentric to polycentric cities, focusing on the factors contributing to the decline of Central Business Districts (CBDs). It examines trends such as decentralization, suburbanization, and their impact on urban landscapes from the 1950s onwards. Test your understanding of the economic and social changes reshaping modern urban environments.
