Title: How Do Cities Grow?
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Content: Although widespread car ownership led to the development of business activity outside of the central business district, the basic idea of this model still holds true in large urban areas. It is also important to note, however, that topography and geography can prohibit growth of the concentric circles in a given direction. For example, Chicago’s growth is limited to the east because of Lake Michigan. Mountains, oceans, and large rivers can also limit growth in a particular direction. The first zone in the concentric circle growth model is the city’s central business district. This is the area that is the center of economic activity in the city, and most people work in this zone. The land here has the highest value and earns the highest economic returns. Much of the development in this area is in the form of high-rise office buildings and skyscrapers necessary to meet the needs of a high population density. The availability of residential property in this zone is highly limited due to the exceptionally high cost of real estate. As a result, luxury apartments serve the wealthiest segment of the population.