Densification, private sector-led development, and social polarization in the global south: Lessons from a century of zoning in Bogotá

Faced with rapid and uncontrolled urbanization, cities in the Global South have relied on densification strategies to contend with sprawl, social polarization, and environmental risks. However, such densification strategies are shaped by evolving zoning policies which in turn are subject to tensions between private sector interests and public policy imperatives, leading to the emergence of new urban fabrics characterized by fragmentation and polarization. Bogotá, Colombia, provides an exemplary case of the unpredictable outcomes of zoning policies designed to foster densification, particularly in political contexts characterized by strong private market interests operating in tension with sustainability goals favored by the public sector. Partly due to strong private sector influences and investment strategies, the city is characterized by uneven densification patterns and continuing polarization despite zoning policies intended to limit urban growth and foster densification, in particular Acuerdo 7 from 1979 and Decreto 190 from 2004. The case of Bogotá illuminates the need for fine-grained, historical analysis to reveal the emergence of new urban fabrics in the Global South, particularly in cities where zoning policies designed to foster densification are influenced by strong private sector development interests.