Urban Functions and Land Use Quiz

Study Notes

The distribution of urban functions is driven by market forces, specifically through the concepts of land value and bid rent.
Land value determines the cost of land and how it is used.
Urban functions are classified as:
- Retail: Exchange of goods and services (e.g., Shopping districts and malls)
- Industrial: Manufacturing of goods (e.g., Industrial areas with factories and warehouses)
- Commercial: Offices, business services, financial services etc.
- Residential: Residential areas, inner-city vs suburban
- Public Space and Recreation: Areas for public interaction and leisure
- Educational: Universities, schools, and other educational institutions.

Land-use is determined by land-value, with higher-valued land used differently to cheaper land.
Land-value also impacts the intensity of land-use.
Bid rent is the amount of money a particular parcel of land could expect to receive and is greatly influenced by site and internal situation.
Site refers to the physical attributes of the location, such as access to resources, views, and terrain (e.g., factories need flat land, while most people prefer hilly areas with views).
Internal Situation refers to the location compared to other parts of the city, including accessibility and proximity to other features.
Prime-value intersection (PVI) is a point in the city with the greatest access and highest land value, historically the CBD. It serves as a reference point for determining other land values based on distance and access.
Land value decreases with increasing distance from PVI, directly impacted by transportation access.
Higher land value in PVI leads to greater intensity of land use (e.g., skyscrapers).

It is a distinctive feature of many cities, historically important for its centrality and functional concentration.
While its importance has decreased due to decentralisation and decline, it still plays a crucial role in many cities.
The CBD's centrality attracts transportation breaks (break-of-bulk-points) and has a combination of roles including:
- Central marketplace
- Entertainment and cultural services
- Major transportation node
- Administrative centre
- Corporate offices
The CBD is characterized by high land value, intensive land-use, high density, pedestrian traffic, and traditionally lower residential population.

Residential intensity decreases as you move away from the CBD: apartments > semi-detached > detached single-family homes.
In many US and South African cities, wealthier households tend to live in suburban and exurban areas, while poorer households live closer to the CBD. This is driven by: - Larger residential homes and escaping negative externalities like noise and pollution in suburban areas. - The proportionate cost of access is higher for the poor than the wealthy.
There are also positive externalities associated with living closer to the CBD, such as access to retail, entertainment, and cultural amenities.
Urban density gradient, with differing night-time and day-time densities, is notable.

The concept of land value and bid rent is closely linked to the expansion of cities.
Transportation provides access, directly impacting land value.
The evolution of transportation systems has changed the urban landscape: - The Walking City (pre-1850): - Functional integration (mixed-use neighbourhoods) - Retail scattered throughout residential areas. - Social integration - Absence of a distinct CBD
- Horse Car and Electric Street Car Era (1850-1920): - Urban expansion - Social class division. - Emergence of the CBD. - Increased mobility.