Caracas Litoral, Venezuela

"Caracas Litoral, Venezuela looks at the challenges, obstacles, and opportunities facing the reconstruction of coastal communities near Caracas, after mudslides devastated these areas in December 1999. Already in the midst of informal land development, affluent weekend residents from Caracas had awkwardly occupied this dramatic and precarious strip of coastland between the Gulf of Mexico and the Avila Mountain--"also shared with the national airport and second largest seaport. In a city where most of the urban population lives in informal housing, the contested nature of redevelopment--"emergent social, economic, and cultural patterns confronting traditional patterns of settlement--"could easily be predicted. Fully bilingual, in English and Spanish, this book explores opportunities that unite the various constituencies through innovative programming, sustainable geological/hydrological infrastructure, and economically viable housing and commercial development.