Medellín: Urban Planning as an Instrument of Social Equity, Environmental Quality and Sustainability
After decades of economic splendor and social, urban and industrial growth, in 1991 Medellín was considered the most dangerous city in the world. Between 1983 and 1994, 46,612 violent deaths occurred in the city due to drug trafficking and violence associated with illegality. At the moment in which the crisis of values was deeper, different public administrations in Medellín began to structure the construction of a new society from education, culture, coexistence and state presence in neglected areas. Urban planning, in addition to a territorial planning strategy, has been a conceptual structure for the reconstruction of the city through the search for forgotten values in those years of violence and illegality. From the citizen meeting in the public space, education, culture, trust and activities to strengthen the principles of coexistence, Medellín has built a present with new hopes. Urban projects have served to improve community life and urban planning has been the instrument to continue the process of rebuilding values in Medellin from social equity, environmental quality and sustainable planning of the territory.
