3232 - Genetrification & Fortress landscapes & edge cities & post modern western cities

Question 1

Define gentrification

Answer 1

The buying and renovating of properties, often in more run down areas by wealthier individuals . It is an important process of housing improvement supported by groups such as estate agents and local authorities and it has helped to regenerate large parts of British inner cities in the last few decades .

Question 2

First two Causes of gentrification

Answer 2

1. The rent gap = when the price of property has fallen below its real value usually due to lack of maintanace and investment and there is a gap between actual and potential gap
2. Commenting costs, commenting can be expensive so people may move closer to the city centre can eliminate the need to commute

Question 3

Second three causes of gentrification

Answer 3

3. The pioneer image: this refers to the trend of creative individuals such as artists and designers moving into more edge neighbourhoods. These groups are not interested in conformity of suburban living
4. Support of government the local decision makers, both groups are keen to improve the economy and environment of inner city areas and gentrification is seen as an important part of the city
5. Changing compositions of her use holds. Many cities have seen the growth of single or two person households without chikdren. These are more likely to see the benefits of inner city livi

Question 4

Three disadvantages of gentrification

Answer 4

• people on low income cannot afford the higher property prices / rents
• increased car ownership may increase congestion
• loss of business for low order services

Question 5

Four advantages of gentrification

Answer 5

• rise in general prosperity and growth of certain services and business
• increased local tax income
• employment opportunities
• physical environment improved

Question 6

What do critics of gentrification argue?

Answer 6

They argue it has contributed to a lack of affordable housing and has displaced original local inhabitants and gentrification protests are becoming more common

Question 7

Define fortress landscape

Answer 7

Refers to landscapes designed around security, protection, sue alliance and exclusion

Question 8

What are some urban hot spots for crime?

Answer 8

City centres and city estates

Question 9

Name four strategies used to try and reduce crime in the urban hot spots

Answer 9

• greater use of CCTV
• railings and fencing around private spaces
• mosquito alarms that emit high pitched sounds only heard by young people to discourage loitering
• speed bumps to prevent joyriding

Question 10

Relating to fortress landscapes, what concert have more recent strategies focuses on?

Answer 10

‘Designing out crime’ through better urban architecture

Question 11

Give an example of ‘designing out crime’

Answer 11

In Manchester, the redevelopment of housing in parts of greenheys estates has included more Windows to provide better natural surveillance, provision of front gardens with fences or hedges to mark a clear boundary between private and public spaces. Features that have been avoided include, doorways for people to hide in, exposed rainwater down pipes that people could climb on and dark alleys/ dead ends associated with muggings and drug deals.

Question 12

What is the evidence for UK adopting exclusionary tactics adopted by North American cities (to segregate people from those who are seen as threatening or undesirable) ?

Answer 12

Anti - homeless spikes fitted into the grounds of shop doorways or outside upmarket apartments has been highly criticised.
The use of the mosquito, sloped bus shelter seats and special benches that deter skate boarders

Question 13

Describe gated communities (fortress landscapes)

Answer 13

Not a common feature if British cities like they are in the USA and South Africa but the use of guards or the electronic control of access into housing complexes is increasing.

Question 14

Describe small fortress LA case study

Answer 14

Sue alliance and exclusion measures are seen to be at their most extreme in American Cities. Los Angeles has developed a reputation as a city built on fear. Author Mike Davis has detailed how paranoia and fear of gangs, minorities and the homeless has led to a refurbishing of the urban landscapes which include:
Gated communities
Armed response security until sin residential areas
Shopping malls surrounded by staked metal fencing and an LAPD surveillance tower

Question 15

Define edge cities

Answer 15

Self contained settlements which have emerged beyond the original city boundary and developed as cities in February own right and they are most common in North America

Question 16

Why are edge cities emerging

Answer 16

They are largely the result of urban sprawl as a result of higher car ownership, greater willingness to travel long distances

Question 17

Give an example of a sprawling settlement

Answer 17

LA. In 2015 the core city of low Angeles which is roughly 30 km wide had a population of just under 4 million. However thins is surrounded by a metropolitan area of nearly 18 million people which is more than 100 kilometres at its widest point. Within this area there are more than 20 edge cities

Question 18

Generally where do edge cities develop

Answer 18

Develop close to major roads or airports and tend to be found in close proximity to shops, offices and other businesses which decentralised from the original city

Question 19

Why are edge cities linked to extreme social segregation

Answer 19

The wealthy move to a new suburban settlement leaving only the poor and disadvantaged sections of society in the original city

Question 20

What does the term postmodernism describe

Answer 20

Changes that took place in western society and culture in the late twentieth century mainly conceded art and architecture and marked a departure from the conformity and uniformity of modernism.

Question 21

Name four key features of the postmodern western city

Answer 21

• more fragmented urban form compromising independant settlements, economies, societies and culture
• greater emphasis on producer services and knowledge based industries rather than industrial mass production
• electric and varied architecture as seen in the London cityscape
• greater ethnic diversity

Question 22

What is the notion of the postmodern western city based on

Answer 22

They are based on the experiences of a small number of cities