Which option best describes the Griffin-Ford spine feature?

• A. A ring of low-density suburbs around the city center.
• B. A hybrid zoning with mixed-use in the periphery.
• C. A spine of elite residential development extending from the CBD with a commercial axis.
• D. A mono-centric ring with no social stratification.

Answer: (C)

The Griffin-Ford spine feature describes a Latin American city layout where a central business district sits at the core, and a prominent corridor of elite residential development extends outward from the CBD, accompanied by a strong commercial axis along that spine. This pattern shows a clear social and economic gradient: wealthier residents cluster along the spine near the center, while services and commerce line that corridor to support them, with less affluent areas spreading toward the outskirts. The other options don’t capture this distinct corridor of high-status housing tied to a commercial axis radiating from the core, which is why this one is the best fit.