The Future of Downtown as a Center for Business Knowledge Activity: A Review of the Literature in the Context of Organizational Theory

Abstract

The literature on the future of downtown as a center for business knowledge activity is examined in this article. Researchers emphasize two major concerns, the efficiency of a downtown location and the resulting equity issue, or the impact of location on people and space. A conceptual framework is presented, drawing from organizational theory, with which to place and analyze these concerns. It is argued that the framework provides insight into the importance of downtown for certain "high level" types of business knowledge activity, but accompanied by continued equity concerns. Moreover, the framework seems a promising one for better understanding city structures and processes generally, including the many interactions within and among organizations internal and external to the city.