Five guidelines to promote residency, Historic Center of Quito, axis 24 de Mayo

Abstract

This study investigates the historical evolution and
contemporary challenges of Avenida 24 de Mayo in
Quito, Ecuador, an area that has witnessed significant
changes over the years. Initially known as Quebrada
de Ullaguangua-huayco and renamed Jerusalem in
the 17th century, this thoroughfare served as a water
source and marked the southern boundary of the city
until the late 20th century.
Starting in the 1930s, the area underwent processes
of migration, slumification, social segregation, and
challenges such as insecurity, prostitution, and
informality, issues that persist today. The municipality
implemented interventions with the aim of “integrating”
this area into Quito’s Historic Center, designated a
UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. However, many
of these initiatives have created a clear divide between
the tourist-commercial center and the surrounding
neighborhoods.
Furthermore, large-scale facilities such as the San
Roque Market, the former García Moreno Penitentiary,
and the former Cumanda Bus Terminal have indirectly
contributed to the decline in residential use, promoting
increased commercial activity, especially informal, on
Avenida 24 de Mayo.
This research emphasizes that policies exclusively
focused on heritage preservation have not effectively addressed the entrenched social problems in the
area. The perception of insecurity has increased, and
commercial activity in certain streets has significantly
declined......