POLITICS,URBAN PLANNING & LAND USE IN LATIN AMERICA

Urban Planning: Pre-Colombian to Spanish Colonial

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

Why National & Regional Planning? Focus of debate Do Laissez Faire processes lead to irrational spatial concentrations? ◦ Enterprises ◦ Services ◦ Housing

Question: Does deliberately decentralized planning favor a more functionally efficient 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 Century Spatial Policy: Relocate 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 Century Spatial Policy: Relocate 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: The Second Capital City Rio de Janeiro: 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!

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

Brasilian: Modernist Structures (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 202 Norte ◦ Compact living spaces Resemblance to Penn State’s East Hall Dorms?

National Cathedral: Brasilia

Brasilia: National & Global Power

Other Strategies for Twenty-First 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 (Mexico) – industrial center on the Pacific Ocean

Policies Favored by Professional Urban Planners in Latin 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 Professional Urban Planners in Latin America II Decentralize metropolitan structural systems Initiate comprehensive urban land reforms and development controls Improve usefulness of urban transportation systems Broaden environmental controls

Constraints on the Plans of Professional Planners: Technical 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 Professional Planners: Professional 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 Modernist “Pilot Plan

Constraints on the Plans of Professional Planners: Political Patronage Electoral considerations Corruption & bribery Government turn-over