urban regeneration and revitalization in the americas - Woodrow ...

Participatory Government for the Sustainability of Historic Centers
are areas, for example, around the defunct García Moreno prison and the
streets bordering 24 de Mayo Avenue in which there is a great deal of marginality.
On the other hand, begging of all types is concentrated in the center
and some plazas are nocturnal gathering spots for the indigent. Because
of this, different humanitarian organizations work in the center. The Quito
21st Century Plan cites a Social Protection Plan, with projects aimed
toward the vulnerable population located in the historic center. In the center,
there are facilities such as the program for Integral Support of the
Family or childcare centers for the children of prostitutes, where there is also
attention to the vulnerable population. The Special Plan for the Historic
Center has no proposal related to these vulnerable populations. If we want
to have broad social participation, we also have to address marginality as a
palpable reality of the historic center.
HISTORY OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION
IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF QUITO
The Historic Taking of the Center
By initiative of the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the Central
University, Sunday, March 27, 1988 was named a “Symbolic Taking of the
Historic Center.” This occurred as a result of various activities undertaken
in defense of the center due to the 1987 earthquake that laid bare its vulnerability.
The actors involved were painters, sculptors, poets, dancers,
singers, teachers, students, housewives, priests, journalists, and shopkeepers—all
of whom congregated in the historic center.
The purpose was to take the center for a day, With this in mind, pedestrian
zones, artistic presentations, and games for children were organized.
The center was without cars for the first time in a long time and the enormous
number of people who entered the center did it on foot or by bicycle.
Now, the center is turned into a pedestrian zone every Sunday. Sixteen
years ago it was completely unique. The cleanliness of the center was also
very notable that day.
Despite the existence of clear financing, the success of this collective consensus
and the enthusiasm stirred up in such varied groups of people was
due to the common cause that motivated the occurrence: they were all participants
of the taking of the city, they all were owners of and responsible
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