MARKUS HESSE, Luxemburg: Resilient Suburbs? Ungleiche Entwicklungsdynamiken suburbaner Räume in Nordamerika im Zeichen der Kreditkrise

Resilient Suburbs? Uneven development of suburban areas in North America in the light of the financial crisis

This paper discusses the context of spatial inequality, growth and decline in the case of suburban areas in the United States. For decades, the particular North American trajectory of urbanisation was characterised by declining inner-cities, the rise of the suburbs and emerging developments at the urban fringe and beyond. However, a substantial proportion of older, inner-ring suburbs in metropolitan areas now suffer from degradation and decay. Also, in the light of most recent developments on the real estate market, even newer sub- and exurban areas have experienced abrupt decline, due to imploding “subprime“ mortgages and the effects of related foreclosures. According to some commentators, suburbs now represent despair and decline, or even the “next slum”. Against this background, the paper presents a case study of the Stockton Metropolitan Area, Northern California, one of the places most severely hit by the credit crunch nationwide. The findings of the case study are discussed in the context of cycles of urban change and the need for regenerating suburban areas as a core component of the North American city. For this reason, the paper finally depicts on the concept of resilience and seeks to assess how related short- and mid-term challenges of crisis and decline can be met by policy and planning.

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