Urban Dynamics of Change
Urban dynamics include:
- Suburbanisation
- Exurbanisation
- Counterurbisation
- Decentralisation
- Urban decay
- Urban renewal/Gentrification
- Urban village
- Spatial exclusion
- Consolidation
Suburbanisation
Suburbanisation involves a movement of people to areas immediately next to large cities. This process has been helped by:
Conurbation refers to a large, heavily populated urban area formed by growth and the gradual merging of separate urban areas.
- the development of large regional shopping centres
- change in employment (working from home, businesses set up in the suburbs)
- construction of expressways, public transport.
Conurbation refers to a large, heavily populated urban area formed by growth and the gradual merging of separate urban areas.
Questions for consideration:
Why is urban sprawl considered by some to be a problem?
What people might actually be in favour of urban sprawl?
What are the advantages of urban consolidation over urban sprawl?
"Urban sprawl should be stopped immediately". Provide at least 5 arguments for and 5 arguments against this statement.
Why is urban sprawl considered by some to be a problem?
What people might actually be in favour of urban sprawl?
What are the advantages of urban consolidation over urban sprawl?
"Urban sprawl should be stopped immediately". Provide at least 5 arguments for and 5 arguments against this statement.
Exurbanisation
A process where usually affluent people move away from the city to rural areas, but continue to commute each day to work in the city, or maintain their city jobs through the use of technology.
Perimetropolitan settings: localities that are rural areas and small towns that are beyond the edge of the official suburbs of the city but still within commuting distance of metropolitan jobs.
Perimetropolitan settings: localities that are rural areas and small towns that are beyond the edge of the official suburbs of the city but still within commuting distance of metropolitan jobs.
Counterurbanisation
Counterurbanisation is where people move out of the city into rural areas and change their lifestyle to live a rural way of life.
Case study: Nimbin
Case study: Byron Bay
- Also known as urban to rural migration
- The reverse of urbanisation
- Examples: the sea change movement, the tree change movement, forced movements (for economic reasons such as housing costs)
Case study: Nimbin
- counter-culture settlement
- alternative lifestyles
- hoppies
Case study: Byron Bay
- resulted in increased property prices, new developments, etc
- yuppies
- surfies/waxheads.
Decentralisation
Decentralisation is the process of moving businesses and organisations out of the city centre to small regional centres. It involves the movement of economic activities from large urban centres to smaller rural and regional centres and communities.
Decentralisation policies developed in the 1960s in Australia.
Examples: Bathurst-Orange, Albury-Wodonga.
A satellite city is an urban centre having economic links with a larger city from which it is separated by open country.
Decentralisation policies developed in the 1960s in Australia.
Examples: Bathurst-Orange, Albury-Wodonga.
A satellite city is an urban centre having economic links with a larger city from which it is separated by open country.
Urban decay
Urban decay is the process of buildings becoming run-down and neglected as they age. As existing buildings deteriorate, surrounding areas also become degraded. This was perviously common in the inner city and oldest parts of the city.
The Doughnut effect
Development occurs around the CBD and is then surrounded by residential, industrial areas with some smaller centres of commerce.
Many industrial companies move to the suburbs in search of cheaper land (suburbanisation of business). People move out of the city to live closer to places of employment.
This leaves a ring of disused land surrounding the CBD. This is not the case in Sydney anymore as a result of increased property prices.
Development occurs around the CBD and is then surrounded by residential, industrial areas with some smaller centres of commerce.
Many industrial companies move to the suburbs in search of cheaper land (suburbanisation of business). People move out of the city to live closer to places of employment.
This leaves a ring of disused land surrounding the CBD. This is not the case in Sydney anymore as a result of increased property prices.
Urban renewal & gentrification
Urban renewal is the redevelopment of old urban areas with new buildings and improved infrastructure. Generally a city's CBD is constantly being renewed in parts because it is the focus of the city. This is where there are old or obsolete buildings and this is where there are investment opportunities for developers. Office and shop rentals in the CBD are generally very high because of the volume of business transacted there and this attracts developers.
Examples include the current redevelopment of Barangaroo, Green Squre and a few decades ago the Pyrmont/Darling Harbour redevelopment.
Gentrification is a type of urban renewal. It is a process where inner-city, dilapidated buildings or poor neighbourhoods are taken and renovated by the movement of wealthy people into the area. The whole urban environment then changes character. Different groups of people move into a suburb as others move out, thus changing the whole character of that suburb. High prices for rental accommodation close to the city centre force families on low incomes out. Wealthy people and double-income couples, mostly without children compete for high rents. High purchase prices mean that the homes are only available for purchase by the higher income earners. Then they can live in and refurbish old terrace houses and have access to inner city life. As the process of gentrification continues and suburbs become more attractive looking, rentals and property prices increase again. More wealthy people move in, forcing others out.
Examples include the current redevelopment of Barangaroo, Green Squre and a few decades ago the Pyrmont/Darling Harbour redevelopment.
Gentrification is a type of urban renewal. It is a process where inner-city, dilapidated buildings or poor neighbourhoods are taken and renovated by the movement of wealthy people into the area. The whole urban environment then changes character. Different groups of people move into a suburb as others move out, thus changing the whole character of that suburb. High prices for rental accommodation close to the city centre force families on low incomes out. Wealthy people and double-income couples, mostly without children compete for high rents. High purchase prices mean that the homes are only available for purchase by the higher income earners. Then they can live in and refurbish old terrace houses and have access to inner city life. As the process of gentrification continues and suburbs become more attractive looking, rentals and property prices increase again. More wealthy people move in, forcing others out.
What is driving urban gentrification?
Detroit and Urban renewal - Detroiters work: The lighter, quicker, cheaper regeneration of a great American city.
Why did the inner city gentrify?
Detroit and Urban renewal - Detroiters work: The lighter, quicker, cheaper regeneration of a great American city.
Why did the inner city gentrify?
Spatial exclusion
Locational disadvantage is the concentration of the economically and socially disadvantaged into particular neighbourhoods with few services and limited infrastructure.
Urban village
Urban consolidation
Activity
Urban consolidation promotes an increase in medium and high density housing in suburbs that already contain infrastructure. The building of houses and apartments increases the number of people living in an area.
When we refer to low-, medium- and high-density housing refers to the number of houses per hectare of land. Medium density includes division of suburban blocks whereas high density includes home units and high rise apartment buildings. Low-density housing refers to single houses on a block of land.
When we refer to low-, medium- and high-density housing refers to the number of houses per hectare of land. Medium density includes division of suburban blocks whereas high density includes home units and high rise apartment buildings. Low-density housing refers to single houses on a block of land.
Fill in the table below outlining the advantages and disadvantages of urban sprawl and urban consolidation.
Urban sprawl |
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Urban consolidation |
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Questions to consider:
Why is urban consolidation at the centre of ongoing political debate?
What balance must be achieved if urban consolidation is to work?
In what ways does Australia's changing household structure favour the construction of high density housing?
Why is urban consolidation at the centre of ongoing political debate?
What balance must be achieved if urban consolidation is to work?
In what ways does Australia's changing household structure favour the construction of high density housing?
