Medellin, Colombia Flashcards
(23 cards)
what is Medellin case study linked to?
it’s to show how external forces change and shape places
(for RGS course we focus on the external force government policies)
where is Medellin?
second largest city in Colombia, located in Aburra valley
who was Pablo Escobar?
a drug lord—> supplied 80% of all cocaine smuggled into US, wealthiest criminal in history
- VERY powerful , feared and loved by poor western colombia
* he is an endogenous and exogenous factor
what did Pablo Escobar do for the poor?
he built houses BUT also made Colombia worlds murder capital
who is Sergio Fajardo?
- was mayor of Medellin and came up with the “Social urbanism” program
—> helped Medellin improve through projects and architecture
—> reduced violence and poverty
what’s the Metropolitan green belt?
a string of parks that aim to add green space to city and act as a barrier to urbanisation and help counteract pollution etc , increase food security etc
what is Ruta N?
a business centre created by Mayors office of Medellin. Public initiative
—> designed to support entrepreneurship, innovation, technology-based businesses
—> increase global opportunities, investors etc , more jobs and employment
what did the community and local NGO’s do?
collaborated with city planners and ensured plans met real needs
what was social change in Medellin?
“Social urbanism” = regeneration program from Medellin city govt Mayor Sergio Fajardo (2004-7)
what did the social urbanism program do?
improved architecture, education, public spaces and developed and enhanced low income area facilities and former crime hotspots
—> other plans= transport to integrate poorer neighbourhoods with rest of city :
- metro cable cars and urban escalators
—> transport and infrastructure policies = reduced inequalities , promoted integration, reduced travel time, increased access to jobs etc —> overall all improvements attract investment etc
ALSO- college (Saint Domingo’s), Spanish library, culture centres, schools, parks —> community = involved in spending decisions and social inclusion
Medellin 1980’s-90s?
- Pablo Escobar drug cartel, lots of violence, inequality, informal settlements in hillsides , little infrastructure, spatial inequality between rich valley bottom vs poor steep hills, “war zone”, “murder capital”
Medellin now?
positive, tourism and graffiti on metro cable system, media representation improved
BUT still gap between rich and poor though not as big
- Gentrification, spatial inequality as some areas still underdeveloped , still some organised crime, some policies didn’t reach all areas
national scale
- Colombia govt policies —> aimed to reduce drug violence through US funded intervention = reduced power of drug cartels
- Colombia govt policies —> invested in urban safety infrastructure etc as part of national development plans = empower Medellin locally= support for decentralisation
- colombian police= helped stabilise security post cartels = enabled regeneration projects in previous inaccessible areas
global scale
foreign investment and global image—> medellin market globally as modem of urban transformation= attracts FDI + tourism
- world bank , UN habitat = funded + supported the development + provided expertise
- Medellin now part of UN- habitat , hosted global conferences like World Urban Forum (2014)= showcasing its transformation and inspired cities worldwide e.g. now a cable car in La Paz BUT places require same geography (hillsides etc) to replicate
sustainability
- eco- urbanism strategies e.g. green corridors = reduced inequalities air pollution, urban tree planting, public transport
Communa 13 and Santa Domingo- 1990s?
- 2 of 16 neighbourhoods in Medellin
—> on steep, periphery of city and where most poor and criminals etc
—> inaccessible (2 hour commute) and lacked job opportunities —> there were segregated from rest of the city
—> high murder rates, lack of governance in 1990s
communa 13 and santa domingo 2004?
2004- Mayor Fajardo elected by EDU (organisation with architects (Echeverri), urban planners and builders)
—> all funded by government owned utilities company EPM which made profits
communa 13 and santa domingo 2 approaches to remove segregation?
- connectivity (escalators and cable cars)
- state of the art public spaces e.g. Parque Bibliotheca (library) in santa domingo.
—> all projects “man on the ground” (local representative aiding decision making)
“participatory budgeting”(local decisions on how money spent
communa 13 and santa domingo now?
6 cable car lines connecting poorer neighbourhoods with metro train in city
- murder rate down 90% and poverty rate down 60%
- major tourist city (walking tours of communa 13 with street food etc)
medellin population?
around 2.5 million now vs around 60,000 in 1905
medellin murder rate?
dropped in city from 6349 in 1991 to 653 in 2009
crime rate down 80%=safer place
what is FARC?
they were a major threat to the govt as they killed, bombed, kidnapped etc
other key points?
- metro cable system came 2004 and electric escalators (communa 13) in 2011
- eastern and western flanks to city in edges of aburra valley= home to poorest ppl, they live in shanty towns
- more than 80% of residence belong to socio economic classes
- 10 library parks built 2008-11 which have green space around and strategically placed in most marginalised communities
