The rise (and fall?) of a state land bank

The Community Architect Program: Implementing participation-in-design to improve housing conditions in Cuba

“…This shift seems to be in line with the international recognition that, in the context of developing countries, self-help housing strategies are the most viable alternatives because of their affordability and flexibility (Gilbert, 2004(Gilbert, , 2009UN-Habitat, 2005). However, while the cost-effectiveness of the strategy is the central factor in explaining the success of the Community Architect Program, the transition that occurred in Cuba touched many aspects of the architectural practice in the island.…”

Illegality of private subdivision and access to land for housing by the urban poor in Dhaka

“…Secondly, local politicians, intermediaries, RAJUK planners and land owners e all these stakeholders are in favour of the land because of the financial gain, which ultimately add-up to the final subdivision price. Contrary to the suggestion of Gilbert (2009), many of the housing problems will prolong even with the country's economic growth and rising affordability because of the rising land price. Finally, high land price is an indicator of legality, infrastructure and utility provision.…”

“…The combination of rapid urban growth, limited governmental capacity and resources and the sheer number of people living in poverty failed most of the government approaches to housing (Gilbert, 2009). The government was unable to deliver affordable mass housing because the whole system lacked a sound economic base due to the level of subsidies involved (Choguill, 1988(Choguill, : 30e1, 2009Sengupta, 2006: 450).…”

“…The Millenium Declaration in 2000 (MDG 7) aims to make 'significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by the year 2020' (UN Habitat, 2003). Because of the increasing number of slum dwellers, and from the experiences of developing countries, the world clearly faces a major urban housing crisis (Gilbert, 2009;Sengupta, 2010). In Asian cities, which comprise about 60% of the world slum population, the lack of housing is one of the most serious and widespread consequences and causes of poverty (Yuen, 2007).…”

Slum Upgrading and Housing in Latin America

“…Simultaneously, it would redirect private capital gains from transforming rural land into urban land, toward financing infrastructure and producing public goods. The company's capital was expected to rotate every two to three years and thus continue to promote new affordable serviced land; in practice, however, land acquisition and other setbacks, such as legal disputes and fluctuating political support, extended this cycle and reduced the expected returns, leading to serious financial constraints (Ferguson and Navarrete, 2003;Gilbert, 2009;MV, 2011a;Saborido, 2006).…”