Definition
An edge city is essentially a suburban downtown—office parks, shopping, hotels, and entertainment clustered at a highway intersection instead of downtown. It replaces traditional downtowns as economic centers but often lacks the walkable charm. Think corporate headquarters and retail sprawl.
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Edge cities are concentrations of office, retail, and entertainment on suburban periphery where highways intersect. Developed to escape downtown congestion and serve suburban workers. Include office parks, shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants. Example: Tysons Corner (Virginia) or Las Colinas (Texas). Properties are automobile-dependent despite mixed uses. Often lack pedestrian character of traditional downtowns. Edge city development accelerates sprawl. Some edge cities have evolved toward mixed-use, walkable development. Properties appeal to businesses seeking suburban locations.
Pro Tip
Evaluate long-term employment trends in edge cities. They can be subject to rapid shifts when companies relocate.
Example
An edge city development included corporate headquarters, shopping center, and hotels at a highway intersection.