The formation of social organizations and their attempts to consolidate settlements and neighbourhoods undergoing transition in Buenos Aires

Abstract

This paper examines the formation of social organizations in the two forms of urban habitat most commonly used by low-income groups in Buenos Aires-the invasion of vacant land, mostly in peripheral areas, and the occupation of vacant buildings within the city centre. In the first, community organizations are widespread, of long standing and relatively effective. They helped develop (and negotiate for) basic infrastructrure and services and helped negotiate land tenure. Government agencies recognize them and work with them. In the second, community organizations are less evident and less effective, in part because the illegally occupied buildings are scattered between those legally owned by higher-income groups, in part because the inhabitants seek to disguise their illegal status and in part because government organizations do not recognize the legitimacy of such organizations and have made no provision to allow their tenure to be regularized.

Feeling and thinking: Quantifying the relationship between perceived tenure security and housing improvement in an informal neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

“…One of the first major urban policy changes by the military government (1976)(1977)(1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983) when it came to power was the liberalization of rent control. The resulting increased rents during a period characterized by steep economic decline, precipitated a significant drop in the number of renters between 1976 and 1978 as many of them could not afford their rents anymore (Herzer, Di Virgilio, Lanzetta, Rodrı´guez, & Redondo, 2000;Izaguirre & Aristiza´bal, 1988;Keeling, 1996). In the same period, the military government also embarked on a massive programme to eradicate the villas miserias in the Capital Federal.…”

Legal Tenure Security, Perceived Tenure Security and Housing Improvement in Buenos Aires: An Attempt towards Integration

“…A number of policies instigated by the military government that took power in 1976, such as the liberalization of rent control and the promulgation of new urban planning legislation, in combination with a drastic fall in wages for much of the workforce during a period of steep economic decline significantly worsened the housing situation for the popular sectors (Herzer et al. , 2000).…”

Housing informality in Buenos Aires: Past, present and future?

“…The resulting increased rents, coupled with a drastic fall in real wages for much of the workforce during a period of steep economic decline, precipitated a significant drop in the number of renters, from 19.1% in 1977 to 12.9% in 1981 (Herzer et al, 2000).…”

“…Besides eradicating villas in the Federal District, and passing more restrictive land use legislation, the 1976-1983 military government also liberalised rent control with the intention of stimulating the real-estate market. The resulting increased rents, coupled with a drastic fall in real wages for much of the workforce during a period of steep economic decline, precipitated a significant drop in the number of renters, from 19.1% in 1977 to 12.9% in 1981 (Herzer et al, 2000).…”