Urban Land Use, CBD Decline & Suburbs Part 2

What is an edge city?

During which decade did the decline of the CBD begin in the US?

What major change is associated with the shift from monocentric to polycentric cities?

Which of the following was NOT a consequence of middle and upper-income populations moving to the suburbs?

What role did deindustrialisation play in the decline of Western cities?

What term is used for the coalitions formed by local governments and private entities to revitalize the CBD?

Which strategy for CBD revitalization focuses on preserving historical and architectural value?

What phenomenon emphasizes the movement of people back to the urban core?

Which of the following is NOT one of Larry Ford's themes of downtown change?

What impact did the 1980s have on urban regeneration efforts in South Africa?

Urban Land Use, The CBD and Suburbs (Part 2)

The shift from a monocentric to a polycentric city, through processes of decentralization and suburbanization, has created edge cities.
This process has also stimulated the decline of CBDs, resulting in a shift of retail and commercial activities away from the center.
The decline of CBDs started earlier in the US (1950s) than in South Africa (1980s).
The decline of CBDs was fuelled by middle and upper-income residents relocating to the suburbs, taking their purchasing power with them.
Retail and commerce followed suit, leading to higher vacancy rates, plummeting property values, and a decreased tax base.
Deindustrialization also played a significant role in the decline of many Western cities in the second half of the 20th century.
Inner cities became neglected spaces with high crime rates, often attracting marginalized groups and the urban poor.
Attempts to revitalize or regenerate inner cities began in the late 1960s (US).
Urban regeneration efforts in South Africa have been ongoing since the 1990s.
Urban growth machines, comprised of local governments, bankers, financiers, real estate developers, and planners, are responsible for efforts to return prosperity to CBDs.
Strategies for revitalizing/regenerating CBDs include:
- Historic preservation (architecture, heritage sites)
- Downtown housing developments
- Creative and cultural industries
- Nightlife and entertainment (nighttime economy)
- Tourism (Disneyfication)
- Major events and convention centers
- Sports events and facilities
Larry Ford (2003) identified four major themes of downtown change:
- Fun zones
- Historic districts
- Residential neighbourhoods
- Gentrification and the “back to the city” movement

Explore the transformation from monocentric to polycentric cities and the impact on Central Business Districts (CBDs) and suburbs. This quiz examines the decline of CBDs, suburbanization, and the role of deindustrialization in shaping urban spaces. Understand the socioeconomic shifts that have led to the rise of edge cities and changes in retail dynamics.