Metropolitan interstices and interventions

The systemic condition of the metropolitan scale is reflected by those interstices that connect the different layers of the metropolitan administration or that spatially touch several municipal boundaries. It somehow coincides with those areas that allow the implementation of large-scale projects that can not only address municipal needs but also metropolitan and even regional. On these spaces, the nature of their interventions makes their scale explicit and reflects their importance in optimising resources achieving maximum benefits. So, one indicator of the

183 scale impacts of suburban interstices is related to their different interventions and their benefits, which place them on the top of the urban agenda (Interview 15).

In a similar vein, these interstitial spaces coincide with those identified by institutional actors as relevant – that apart from their multi-layer administrative character –host physical and spatial conditions to impact beyond local/municipal boundaries. In this vein, it is clear that metropolitan and regional impacts are key criteria to select and define the transformations of Santiago’s interstices. These interstices have drawn the attention of institutional authorities, both for their negative impacts as underused lands and potentials for new developments. In terms of impacts, there is a transversal agreement regarding intervening these interstices. However, in terms of concrete actions there are differing positions and non-standard policies (Interview 33).

It is also clear that a stable regeneration policy is needed to address the metropolitan interstitial scale. Currently, regeneration practices are based on embryonic experiences on renewal programs to recover population of the city’s centre (Bertrand, et al., 1991) and public spaces in deprived neighbourhoods (Sepúlveda and Larenas, 2010; Sepúlveda, 2009; MINVU, 2015, Programa ‘Quiero mi Barrio’). However, the recovering of large-scale areas has been based on a ‘project-oriented’ rationale – rather than political –and thus, subject of professional biases (especially from architecture and urban design) and successive political clashes and technical gridlocks. This has been the case of the Cerrillos airport site and the CPB project at the Cerrillos commune, for example, or the proposal for a metropolitan Zoo placed in La Platina site at La Pintana commune that clearly illustrates the complexities of the metropolitan scale. These cases will be deeply analysed in next chapter, along with others that also scrutinise the relational character of such interstices of Santiago’s sprawl.

The Cerrillos airport site and the CPB project

The Cerrillos airport site is a military facility characterised by the presence of heavy infrastructure and multiple institutions that includes several

184 ministries, municipalities, private developers and political actors. Elements such as landing platforms and hangars, and strict restrictions that even embrace the aerial space and the approaching cone make the area complex to be revamped and subject of several political controversies. Its intervention has been part of the public debate since its announcement in 2001, taking part of several administrations, technical teams and adaptations of original proposals (Del Piano, 2010; Eliash, 2006; Galilea, 2006).

According to planning authorities in the MINVU, the project-based rationale behind the intervention was not suitable to achieve ambitious purposes – that included high urban standards and a series of environmental and socio-political goals – and has been continuously modified to respond to housing demands and tensions between developers and public authorities (Interview 03; Interview 05; Interview 15; Trivelli, 2006). This site is a clear case of metropolitan interstitiality and illustrates the series of political perils that this scale supposes.

La Platina site and the metropolitan zoo

Another case of metropolitan interstitiality is ‘La Platina’ site – currently working as a ‘research centre’ – located at La Pintana commune. This is a 300-hectares site under administration of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Ministry of Agriculture. It was created in the 60s in a peripheral rural space but is currently surrounded by low-income residential neighbourhoods. This area still hosts research activities but according to the administration, only 60/80 hectares are efficiently used. So, the site has been subject of interventions– such as parks or public facilities – although the most relevant proposal was the master plan to create a new metropolitan zoo in 2002. This proposal was an agreement between central and local authorities but nevertheless it never prospered due to a series of political, social and financial issues. Thus, central authorities developed a new master plan for residential areas and a metropolitan park (Interview 11;

Interview 03).

Campus Antumapu and its master plans

Another metropolitan interstitial space is the ‘Campus Antumapu’, also located at La Pintana commune. It belongs to the Universidad de Chile (a

185 public university) and embraces a 300-hectares land used for educational purposes related to agriculture and veterinary sciences. The area is slightly densified by few buildings, so it appears as virtually empty. Considering its non-intensive use, authorities aim to change the land-use to sell and rent some land portions. Nevertheless, municipal authorities also have interests in developing social housing projects. This interstice was also intended for a metropolitan stadium and commercial services. Aside from differences, the land is still ‘public’ and so, a matter of several administrative constraints to be redeveloped. As a way of solution, university planners defined a master plan to foresee new land-uses that include a central park, areas for private vineyards, shops and social housing developments for different socio-economic profiles (Interview 18; Interview 46).

Gravel pits and public parks

Several underused industrial lands of Santiago are defined by a series of gravel pits used to obtain raw material for the construction industry.

Elements such as fill dirt, stones, stone chips, rubble and others compose a highly polluted landscape spatially characterised by large and deep urban

‘hole’ that create a three-dimensional geography that contrasts with the flat one defined by residential surroundings. These lands are mainly located at the southern/western metropolitan area, involved several communal boundaries and appear as labelled as ‘industrial’ in metropolitan plans.

One particular case is related to the gravel pits located in the boundary between the commune of La Florida and Puente Alto. This is a private property formed by a series of interconnected ‘holes’ –restricted to public access – in which extraction of raw material is combined with industrial storage of rubble. These industrial activities increase tensions with residents due to air pollution, noise and insecurity. Nevertheless, some holes are being infilled to allow future urbanisations including parks, green spaces and amenities such as swimming pools and promenades, but these ideas are not aligned with central authorities who see the area for social housing developments. At any case, physical restrictions do not allow a totally successful transformation in the short-term. Additionally, and as a boundary area, this interstitial space suggests unprecedented coordination at multiple

186 levels (Interview 30). This situation is similar to others gravel pits distributed on other suburban communal boundaries (Figure 16).

Figure 16.The gravel pits at the boundary between La Florida and Puente Alto (author’s photo. May 2014)