Urban renewal, public space and sense of place. Case study in Mexico city

This paper shows the main characteristics and consequences of the social and urban renewal in the neighborhoods of Hipodromo and Condesa in Mexico City. These neighborhoods are living from the beginning of the nineties a deep economic and social transformation materialized in a consequent change in the urban landscape. The arrival of a new media-high incomes residents profile, the real estate boom, the increase of bars and restaurants and the opening of stores "of design" are some of the aspects that go transforming day by day these neighborhoods. Nevertheless, these changes have generated antagonistic positions represented on the one hand, by an association of neighbours (la Asociacion de Amigos de los Parques Mexico y Espana) that fights for the protection of the architectural patrimony and against the massive proliferation of restaurants. This research has been carried out through qualitative methodology.