Latino Urbanism

Latinos are assuming prominence in our social, political, and economic systems, and they are having a growing impact in shaping and revitalizing the built environment: from inner-city neighborhoods to suburban commercial corridors in large cities and small-town America. This force is driven by a continuous growth in population. Evidence of this can be found in the changing demographic landscape of the United States. According to the US Census, the total US population reached 331,000,000 in 2020, In 2019, the number of Latinos reached a record 60.6 million, making up 18 percent of the US population. This is up from 50.7 million in 2010, when Latinos were 16 percent of the population. The 2020 Census will be the first in the nation’s history in which Latinos make up the nation’s second-largest population group. Without Latino growth some states would have shown a decrease in population. There are some counties in the Midwest where the Latino population grew 500 to 700 percent. The Latino population is expected to grow by 29.2 percent and make up 53.3 percent of the total population by the year 2050. As Latino populations grow, the need for resources to support them creates new stresses that are manifested at an international scale and are more predominant in towns and cities. In the early twenty-first century, Latinos have been impacting the built environment and public realm in dynamic ways that are conducive to cultural (re)adaptations while contributing to the social and economic development of neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Latinos contribute to the urban revitalization process by (re)appropriating space for their own use, turning downtrodden areas into vibrant commercial and residential centers to suit the needs and cultural preferences of transnational immigrants. This movement is known as “Latino Urbanism,” an emerging approach to planning, design, and development that responds to Latino lifestyles, cultural preferences, and economic needs that is reflected in the built environment. Latino Urbanism is reflected in the way Latinos bring key qualities that are essential to revitalization processes in our cities, including socialization, leisure activities, and commerce. It is a design and planning concept based on how Latinos organize and use space. Proponents of this movement argue that Latino urban living in modern American towns and cities can incorporate many of the principal tenets of new urbanism: compact urban form, pedestrian activity, public transportation, sustainability, recycling, and active use of public and private spaces. Latino Urbanism strategies show designers, public policymakers, academics, and business owners examples of enabling approaches for how Latino communities can revitalize suburban neighborhoods and obsolete and underutilized retail corridors, improving both local economies and the quality of life for residents.