PROJECTS

RESURGENT CITIES

Neoliberal urban policy has created global conditions that dramatically impact cities and their residents. RESURGENT CITIES interconnect locals to break disciplinary boundaries, stimulate collaborations among professionals, and engage with people who live the local realities. It recognizes a new form of city development that has at its center the notion that civil society can use their knowledge, skills, and, ultimately, their potential to build better living conditions. The RESURGENT CITIES are Mexico City, New York, Rotterdam and Quito, with each territory having its specific focus and collaborations. (…)

RESURGENT CITIES: rotterdam

The relentless urban development in Rotterdam is drastically reshaping the lives of its residents. As the city swells with new inhabitants, the communities in the less affluent southern sectors, especially Rotterdam South, face a formidable threat. Escalating property prices and the relentless tide of gentrification are driving the existing population toward the edge of displacement. In response, the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative has joined forces with Urban Front to counteract these exploitative dynamics. The objective is to halt the creep of gentrification by fortifying social infrastructures and fostering sustainable local production, knowledge exchange, cultural development, and cooperative economic models. (…)

RESURGENT CITIES: MEXICO CITY

In 2015, a historic shift occurred as Mexico's Federal District was officially reconstituted into Mexico City. This Constitution, promulgated early  2017 and effective since the fall of  2018, embodies the aspirations of numerous generations fighting for democracy. Inspired by the Charter for the Right to the City of Mexico City, the Constitution’s bill of rights encompasses progressive provisions on housing. However, despite these constitutional strides, the reality remains stark for many inhabitants of Mexico City, with fair, adequate, accessible, and safe housing remaining out of reach for many. The challenge now lies in bridging the gap between legislative intent and practical implementation, as the city grapples with insufficient infrastructures to enforce and implement these provisions effectively. (…)

RESURGENT CITIES: PICHINCHA

The Province of Pichincha, in Ecuador, is transforming its Puntos Pichincha Technology Centers into community cultural centers. These spaces equipped with technological infrastructure allow the communities of the parishes in which they are located to access digital literacy services. Some of them already lend their spaces for arts courses, film screenings, and crafts. Most of them have a small library or reading corner that primarily serves children. Urban Front is collaborating with the Province of Pichincha to create a management model to develop the appropriate infrastructure for the Puntos Pichinchas to expand their services related to digital literacy, to spaces for the development of digital culture, and above all as community cultural spaces. (…)

RESURGENT CITIES: NEW YORK CITY

The community land trust movement has gained ground in response to the ongoing housing crisis impacting New York City and other urban areas worldwide. Recognizing the urgent need for alternatives housing solutions, Urban Front has partnered with the Shape of Cities to Come Institute to launch a platform to bring together emerging groups, organizations, and movements promoting community land trusts and other non-speculative housing models across cities in Latin America. By fostering this network, the project aspires to amplify the impact of community land trusts and address the unique challenges faced by Latin American cities, tailoring solutions to fit diverse urban contexts and communities. (…)