edge cities

Book by: Joel GarreauPresentation by: Zack Hicks

Edge Cities

Joel Garreau’s qualifications:• ≥5,000,000 ft2 of office space• ≥600,000 ft2 of retail• High daytime population• Automobile dependent• Recently rural

What is an Edge City?

GreenfieldsBoomers

Three Categories of Edge Cities

UptownsWhite Marsh Columbia* Towson*

* Started as edge cities, have become secondary downtowns

• Edge cities surrounded by subdivisions• Each subdivision has

neighborhood associations• Neighborhood associations

influential• NIMBY-ism prevalent• Expansion not wise politically

Edge Cities Can’t Acquire More Land

•More access to mass transit•More traditional street grids•More walkable•More recreation options•Mixed uses

Edge Cities Are Changing

• Downtown areas outside CBD• Defined street grid• High density• Significant residential

population• Next step in edge city’s

evolution

Secondary Downtowns

Edge Cities near Washington, DC

• Dulles• Largo• Greenbelt – /Kenilworth• Bethesda – Montgomery Mall

area• Germantown – along

Transitional Edge Cities near Washington, DC

• Tysons Corners•White Flint• National Harbor•Merrifield• Gaithersburg – Lakeforest

Mall area

Secondary Downtowns near Washington, DC

• Downtown Bethesda• Downtown Silver Spring• Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor• Downtown Reston• Downtown Rockville

Any questions?