Through comprehensive urban regeneration strategies, the DistritoTec project—led by the Technological Institute of Monterrey (in Spanish, “Tecnológico de Monterrey”)—worked to rethink and transform the prevailing city model into one centered around accessibility, sustainability and co-responsibility to positively transform the environment.
The Monterrey Metropolitan Area experienced four converging crises: an uptick in violence and crime related to the federal government's fight against drug cartels; an urban crisis; citywide devastation left by Hurricane Alex; and an environmental crisis with worsening air quality. Monterrey’s population doubled while its urban area increased eight-fold, decreasing density from 16,600 to 4,600 people per square kilometer. This urban expansion displaced people and housing to the city’s peripheries, increasing the cost of transportation and car dependency. It also led to economic decline and a reduction of investment in the inner city.
- Redesigned the Technological Institute of Monterrey’s campus borders: Former underutilized and enclosed spaces became privately owned public spaces, redesigned as pocket parks for public use—transforming the area into a district destination for students and neighbors alike
- Engaged the local community, university and city in the design process
- Designated a specific position that communicates between DistritoTec and the government; this liaison collaborated with Distrotec’s Consejo de Vecinos (in English, “neighborhood council”) to address the district’s main priorities
- Co-developed (with experts, citizens and authorities) the Programa Parcial de Desarrollo Urbano DistritoTec, which provides district-level urban planning regulations approved by the city
- Established the DistritoTec public trust: a financial instrument co-designed by the city and the university that enables investment in the area’s infrastructure and public spaces
- Established 16,729 square meters of renewed, high standard public parks with amenities and programs—sports equipment, playgrounds, plazas and green spaces—for people of all ages
- Created three kilometers of complete streets with tree-shaded space for pedestrians and cyclists
- Developed a safer and more accessible environment for non-motorized transport users through the addition of speed-reduction equipment, pedestrian crossings, urban furniture, underground fixtures, traffic lights and signals
- Led to a six-fold increase in public and private investment in the area: As of 2018, based on public information, the private investment in the area was estimated to be $500 million+
- Contributed to creating a safer city: Burglary cases in DistritoTec fell by 11% between 2016 and 2019 and burglaries in local businesses fell by 55% in 2019
- Strengthened civic participation and social capital: Neighborhood committees, government and the university began managing cultural events like outdoor cinemas, live music concerts, local markets and other activities
- Inspired other efforts around the city, such as Distrito Purisima Alameda, the Campana-Altamira initiative with Tec participation, Distrito Universidad and others
- Achieved municipal recognition
