Urban Geography

Here is a reflection on an urban phenomenon that is repeated in Latin America: Gentrification.

Real estate capital, together with public institutions, converts cities, and especially their centers, into segregated spaces. A clear expression of this problem are the Latin American cities that, through several mechanisms, displace the population residing in these cores to give them elitist characteristics, either with housing features or cultural alternatives.

Gentrification is not a process that occurs in a few cities, but extends to several of the world and Latin America. Santiago de Chile is one of them, Italia, Lastarria and Yungay neighborhoods, are a few examples of this process; places that have been changing from being resided by people of popular classes with low purchasing power, to be places of tourist attention, commerce, design, bohemia, hotels, cafes, art and alternative culture. 

The same process occurs in Bogotá. Gentrification here is allowed by municipal and state policie,s through violent practices such as the abandonment of services to the population, the stigmatization and criminalization of poverty, the speculation of urban centers, the increase in the cost of living, the increase in rental prices and land.

I hope it makes sense to you, bye.