Decentralization, land use change and commercial growth in Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach is known as a center for automobile and motorcycle racing, a famous spring break destination for thousands of college students, and its world famous beaches. The city, like so many other American cities underwent a decentralization of the downtown. Businesses left for the suburbs and thus reshaped the city. This research examines the land use changes in the central business district through time and examines the build up of a new commercial corridor located around the Daytona International Speedway. The research also examines the redevelopment process the city of Daytona Beach used to reinvent itself. Finally, this research will attempt to link the new commercial corridor to the Speedway as one cause of the decentralization process of the downtown.