ABSTRACT
In the industrial city, industrial land is typically located near the urban core, for easy transport of goods and access to labor. Over time, competing uses, such as office and high-end residential, that could pay more for centrally located land, outbid industrial uses, and these businesses moved out. The location of production, distribution, and repair businesses within the region also has important implications for smart growth and regional sustainability. Locating logistics businesses in particular in the urban core, near major trading ports, helps ensure the efficient movement of goods. Displacing the firms from the core into peripheral areas, a trend that is already occurring, would mean a significant increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) from trucks. A civic use such as the opera cannot afford storage space in the urban center, but it can maintain trucks to fetch props in an emergency.
