Fragmentation from Berne Ave

Here is an example of industry abandoning the center-city for the fringes. From the overpass oone can see the tops of cranes above the industrial yard and sand dunes. Visible in the background are the towering spires of corporations, proof that Atlanta transitioned to a Corporate City. Gordon suggests capitalist machines are produced to some extent to control the workers. The same can be said for capitalist city growth. What had been advantageous for business (centralized capital in heart of city) turned into an advantage for the working class (centralized capital meant centralized working class and organization of unions).
Businesses at the turn of the 20th century moved to the suburbs in order to smash labor organization by fragmenting (and thereby subduing and controlling) the working class.
Cities that had matured during the industrial (competitive) stage of capitalist development had their downtown shopping districts transformed into business districts as stores and shops too became fragmented and scattered hither and thither.
Cities that came of age in the corporate accumulation (monopoly) stage became "exemplary" Corporate Cities, lodging corporate headquarters downtown and losing tax revenue from the manufacturing plants that were in the city's suburbs. Corporate control of legislatures ensured cities would not annex these areas, thereby furthering the political fragmentation of society.
Visible in the bottom picture are the railroad tracks needed to supply the company (foreground) as well as some the worker housing that developed around the then suburban operation. In the background, visible to the right is the edge of Glenwood Park, a current attempt at gentrification of the neighborhood after businesses in the 20th century left for more farflung suburbs. Glenwood Park itself was built on the site of another company - the Williams Bros. Concrete Company.