Transitions between town and metropolis : planning strategies for development and conservation of colonial Zacatecas

Abstract

This thesis examines the planning strategies critical for the conservation and development of cities full of historic, traditional and cultural value. The colonial city of Zacatecas in central Mexico, was chosen for this study because of its large and considerably well preserved historic center, and because, as a state capital city and primary city in its region, Zacatecas endures intense development pressures which transform it from a colonial town into a Mexican metropolis. As the urban population of Zacatecas grows, and urban pressures erode its historic center, it becomes crucial to tie government efforts and policies not only to the solution of urban problems in this area, but also to the conservation and development of those districts that give form and have an effect on the urban heritage of the city. This thesis, therefore, focuses on the urban pressures, institutions and regulatory frameworks that affect the historic center and those districts immediately around it, and identifies which government actions are critical to promote their development while ensuring the conservation of the historic, cultural, and traditional elements of their unique urban environment.