Architect Cecilia Rodríguez proposes some solutions, such as regulating temporary accommodations to repopulate the Historic Center.
For architect Cecilia Rodríguez, the Historic Center of Oaxaca is undergoing a process of touristification, which is generating a transient population. Dismissing the idea that what is happening in the Historic Center of Oaxaca is merely a process of gentrification, as part of urban renewal is not displacing the original population with a new one with higher purchasing power, Rodríguez considers that what is affecting it is touristification.
“What we have in Oaxaca is that we are expelling residential use and generating Airbnbs, hotels, and the like, and this is creating a transient population. It is more of a process of touristification,” she says.
The specialist, who is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Historic Center (a citizen body that the city council sometimes consults on certain issues), clarifies that, in any case, it would be a mix of both phenomena.
But this depends on the area of the Historic Center in question, as having detailed studies of the population of this area, the changes in land use that have occurred in recent years, as well as the existence of temporary accommodations, is how problems and their solutions can be identified.
Even so, she believes that several measures can be implemented to curb both phenomena and repopulate the Historic Center, as it is the population that keeps a historic center alive.
“It’s a mix of the two (gentrification and touristification). The Historic Center is not homogeneous, so the urban dynamics experienced in each area are different.”
According to the declaration of historical heritage obtained in 1987 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the historic center of the city of Oaxaca encompasses its central colony and parts of other neighborhoods such as Santo Tomás Xochimilco and San Matías Jalatlaco.
“In Jalatlaco and Xochimilco, we can have certain processes of gentrification, but combined with touristification because there are properties bought by foreigners who inhabit them or rent them out, or inhabit them temporarily,” she explains.
However, she emphasizes that what has most marked the trend towards touristification is the loss of residential use of the Historic Center to make way for businesses focused on tourists or temporary residents.
She also details that part of the problem is also the lack of data or governmental information in the municipality. For example, a census that identifies the housing that still exists in this area.
“But we don’t have (the census), and we continue to lose our way. And we won’t find out how much we’ve lost until we see that there is not a single inhabitant left.”
Even so, she considers that various governmental actions and even private initiatives can be generated to curb the collateral effects of both phenomena.
For example, creating community integration programs, preserving cultural identity, promoting diversity and inclusion. Also, studying and generating solutions on how to offer affordable housing.
“And that has to be done both by public policies and private initiatives.”
Other solutions to touristification include the regulation of temporary accommodations such as Airbnbs, and not exponentially increasing property taxes for those who live in the Historic Center. “Another element that is driving residents out of historic centers is the increase in property tax.”
Regarding the preservation of the colonial architecture that earned the city its heritage declaration, the specialist also observes problems such as interventions in properties for “modern housing needs” or businesses.
In response, she proposes that authorities promote the restoration of historic buildings, construction regulations, tax incentives for heritage conservation, and residential use.
In both the private and governmental sectors, she also proposed that rents be affordable to ensure access to housing. “We want people to return to the historic centers, but if we have rents above 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, or 30,000 pesos, this is inaccessible for most people.”
Source: Imparcial
