Regeneración urbana: un panorama latinoamericano

Traditionally, in the field of urbanism, the term urban regeneration refers mainly to the process of urban production that has become dominant in European and North American cities for several decades now: the implementation of large urban projects of both physical and socio-economic recovery in usually vacant intra-urban areas. Despite the existence of a large potential of land able to be recycled, this has still been happening sparsely in Latin American cities. The projects that have been completed, few, have been called into question. In turn, the programs to revitalize the historic centers and re-densify peri-central areas cannot be seen as initiatives for urban regeneration, in the sense that they consisted mainly in promoting dynamics that highlight tourism and culture, and intensive real estate development, respectively. Nevertheless, to conclude that there are no valuable experiences of urban regeneration in the region would be an error. These are found under different modalities, and rather in peripheral working-class neighborhoods, where comprehensive urban improvement programs are being carried out. Decentering the gaze towards these initiatives may contribute in reassessing the general vision towards urban regeneration in the region.