POLITICS,URBAN PLANNING & LAND USE IN LATIN AMERICA

POLITICS,URBAN PLANNING POLITICS,URBAN PLANNING & LAND USE IN LATIN & LAND USE IN LATIN

AMERICAAMERICA

Urban Planning: Urban Planning: Pre-Colombian to Spanish Pre-Colombian to Spanish

ColonialColonial

Map of the Municipios of the Map of the Municipios of the State of Mexico (Republica de State of Mexico (Republica de Mexico) Mexico)

Why National & Regional Why National & Regional Planning? Planning?

Focus of debate Do Laissez Faire processes lead to irrational spatial concentrations? ◦ Enterprises ◦ Services◦ Housing

Question: Does deliberately Question: Does deliberately decentralized planning favor a decentralized planning favor a more more functionally efficient functionally efficient

national city system? national city system?

◦ Government in Latin America traditionally has been highly centralized Civilization vs. Barbarism mind set

◦ Movement toward decentralization: intensified in the1990’s

◦ Municipios of the “interior” now have more political power & attract more influential individuals

◦ Provision of public services less costly in medium sized cities

Strategies for Twenty-First Strategies for Twenty-First Century Spatial Policy: Relocate Century Spatial Policy: Relocate

Capital Cities? Capital Cities? Attempt following overthrow of

dictatorship to move Argentina’s capital to Viedma Argentina 39.5 million Buenos Aires (city & province) 18.5 million

Electoral defeat of Radical Party (middle class) leads to abandonment of project

Strategies for Twenty-First Strategies for Twenty-First Century Spatial Policy: Relocate Century Spatial Policy: Relocate

Capital Cities? Capital Cities? Brasilia as an outlier

◦Pressures to relocate from Rio de Janeiro Desire to settle the interior Security concerns in case of social

turmoil Jealousy of Rio de Janeiro Costs of relocation enormous

Financial Stringent regulations needed

Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro: The Second Capital City The Second Capital City

Founded by the Portuguese in the early 16th century

Rio became important in the 18th century as an outlet for mineral exports from gold and diamond mines.

Capital of Brazil from 1822 to 1960

Go West Young Man! Go West Young Man!

Physical StructurePhysical Structure

Resembles a university (e.g. Penn State) in planning

Brasilian: Modernist Structures Brasilian: Modernist Structures (Administration Buildings) (Administration Buildings)

Monumental Axis◦ Ministries

Esplanade◦ Open-area garden

surrounded by buildings

The Mall◦ Open-area garden

leading to library surrounded by buildings

Brasilia: Living Areas Brasilia: Living Areas

202 Norte◦ Compact living

spaces

Resemblance to Penn State’s East Hall Dorms?

National Cathedral: National Cathedral: Brasilia Brasilia

Brasilia: National & Brasilia: National & Global Power Global Power

Other Strategies for Twenty-First Other Strategies for Twenty-First Century National Spatial Policy: Century National Spatial Policy:

Support for second and tertiary cities◦Historically lagged behind the capitals◦Increased capability to secure a more

equitable distribution of investment & services

Commercial and industrial decentralization◦Ciudad Guayana – Venezuela◦Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas – Mexico

Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas (Mexico) (Mexico) – industrial center – industrial center

on the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Ocean

Policies Favored by Policies Favored by Professional Urban Planners in Professional Urban Planners in

Latin America ILatin America I

Expansion of social services Broaden public intervention in

housing of social interest◦Self help◦Large projects

Generate employment and integrate spatial planning

Redefine the roles of metropolitan cores

Policies Favored by Policies Favored by Professional Urban Planners in Professional Urban Planners in

Latin America IILatin America IIDecentralize metropolitan

structural systemsInitiate comprehensive urban

land reforms and development controls

Improve usefulness of urban transportation systems

Broaden environmental controls

Constraints on the Plans of Constraints on the Plans of Professional Planners: Professional Planners:

TechnicalTechnical Financial – resources available

even in middle level developed countries fall short of needs

Shortage of trained personnel ◦Traditional L. A. universities did not

include urban planning ◦First urban planners were architects ◦Civil servant salaries often

inadequate to attract top professionals

Constraints on the Plans of Constraints on the Plans of Professional Planners: Professional Planners:

ProfessionalProfessional City Planners often disagree

among themselves over professional criterion◦Housing – value of self-help

programs◦City plan itself

Brasilia reflected “Modernist” tenets Anti-modernists stress uniqueness of

individual neighborhoods

Brasilia: Beyond the Brasilia: Beyond the ModernistModernist

“Pilot Plan “Pilot Plan

Constraints on the Plans of Constraints on the Plans of Professional Planners: Professional Planners:

Political Political

Patronage Electoral considerationsCorruption & bribery Government turn-over