Neighborhood upgrading programs in bogotÁ problems and potentialities

Abstract

The present work is part of a wider research aiming to propose transforming the current Neighborhoods Upgrading Programs in order to guarantee their continuity in time, based on reinforcing social organizations and networks. The article exposes the results of an evaluation of the programs carried out in Bogotá from 1972 to 2010, by a Study Case selected according to location, origin, size, population and relation to neighborhood leaders. Based on identified variables (approach, social, economic and spatial), empiric research methods were applied to collect information, queries and workshops were developed with the involved actors, and “time lines” were made in a conjunct way. Results allowed to demonstrate the lack of integral vision and recognition of the popular neighborhood identity, the advantages of autonomous processes, and the trend to generate segregation between formal and informal neighborhoods.