The phenomenon of gentrification, already present in several areas of Mérida, was the topic of the Lignum Center’s most recent reflection session. Residents, cultural managers, and researchers gathered the day before yesterday to analyze the urban changes that are altering the social and economic fabric of traditional neighborhoods.
“Gentrification is a process that a city undergoes when a group with greater purchasing power makes drastic changes that can end up displacing local residents,” said Gabriel Pérez, cultural co-director of the Lignum Center.
During the meeting, documentaries and reports were screened, and an exchange of ideas was promoted about how this phenomenon is altering communities around the world.
Pérez noted that this phenomenon manifests itself through exclusive businesses, real estate developments, and cultural and political changes, as has occurred in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen.
“In Mérida, there has been a process of investments designed for a certain group with social capital for more than 10 or 15 years,” he indicated.
Neighborhoods like Santiago have been transformed by foreign and national investment. “We see renovated old houses and we’re told there are a lot of foreigners, a lot of tourists… but foreigners don’t invest alone; they’re part of a complex investment system.”
He emphasized that Mexicans are also involved in the dynamic of recovering spaces that were previously perceived as obsolete.
Among the most visible consequences, he mentioned rising rents, the closure of businesses accessible to the local population, and the loss of a sense of community.
“You open a cafe or a restaurant, and it’s not for your neighbor,” Pérez warned.
Risks of gentrification in Mérida
In this environment, the original inhabitants are displaced to the outskirts, which means longer commute times and a loss of quality of life.
The transformation of the city center into an attractive area for tourism and short-term rentals was also discussed. “If you live in Santiago, your neighbors are Airbnbs. So they’re not neighbors,” he lamented.
This, he said, prevents the building of community or neighborhood identity, as was previously the case with spaces like traditional bars.
Pérez emphasized the need for public policies that prioritize local residents. “We want a city where a family can live close to work, play in the street, and have quality public services,” he stated.
He proposed investigating access to housing and taxing illegal Airbnbs. “We must discourage housing from being viewed as a commodity rather than a human right.”
Source: yucatan
