1. POLITICS,URBAN PLANNING & LAND USE IN LATIN AMERICA

2. Urban Planning: Pre-Colombian to Spanish Colonial

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Go West Young Man!

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

11. 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

12. Brasilia: Living Areas 202 Norte ◦ Compact living spaces Resemblance to Penn State’s East Hall Dorms?

13. National Cathedral: Brasilia

14. Brasilia: National & Global Power

15. 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

16. Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas (Mexico) – industrial center on the Pacific Ocean

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Brasilia: Beyond the Modernist “Pilot Plan

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