Integration measures as a regenerative and investment instrument in the city

Abstract

The theories that support the idea of city are based on a rational consensus to the existence of subjects with the same rights represented by democratic and efficient governments. However, in underdeveloped countries conceptual basis, on which the idea of a city is build, differs from that established in countries with more developed democratic structures and social practices.

Impact of real estate development generated by capitalist production of cities in Latin America has not only accelerated processes of territorial segregation and social conflicts, but they have also exceeded the capacity to plan, finance and manage urban development by local and national governments. Real estate dynamic has affect city meaning and their relations, without been able to build a new city idea that effectively integrates this dynamic and not only reject it.

In Mexico City, we find one of the best examples of urban transformation processes in which it is very clear that planning and management models of the city are totally exceeded, but it also presents a great opportunity to rethink models before implementation of a new legal framework: the first Political Constitution of México City. In this study case is explained the existing urban problems and it is presented a methodological proposal for local administration to have better tools to perform a systemic evaluation of urban impacts of real estate development, as well as an example of how they can reduce and compensate for its effects.

This proposal is based on a case –currently under development- carried out by Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico City campus. Its objective is that this methodology for evaluation of urban impacts becomes a tool from which urban development planning instruments become quantitative instruments and not only indicative ones, establishing a direct relation between develop and financing, at least at local level.