PART
DOWNTOWN POVERTY AS A COMPLEX SITE-SPECIFIC PHENOMENON
I
In LAC, more than in any other region, cities are characterized by a common urban structure derived from their colonial roots. This common scheme was designed around a main square, specifically in the area where the government and administrative center, commercial activities, social facilities, and therefore employment opportunities, were concentrated (Pacione, 2005). Over the last 50 years, urban growth has had an impact on the traditional character of LAC cities. Currently, the modern downtown is comprised of the old market district, the historic central district, and the Central Business District (CBD), which is the area where commercial activities are concentrated (see Figure 2). In this manual, the term downtown will be used to refer to a city’s geographical, historFIGURE 2 Modern Downtown Structure ical, and business core.6 Along with business MODERN DOWNTOWN functions, various types of social amenities, leisure activities, and residential and other CBD + nonbusiness land uses also characterize the Historical Central District downtown area. + Downtown areas attract people from Old Market District outlying areas for work and other activities involving spending money within their confines; Source: Editors’ elaboration.
It must be stressed that in LAC, the CBD has different characteristics than in most large North American cities. In the region, the CBD still maintains the role of the principal employment, commercial, and entertainment zones (Pacione, 2005). 6
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