Land deals for social housing in Tecámac and Zumpango: An evaluation of inclusiveness in the peri-urban area of Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Between 2000 and 2010 Mexico City Metropolitan Area sprawled significantly towards the north. Private sector developers of social housing engaged in a rush for land in the rural municipalities Zumpango and Tecámac for the creation of large territorial reserves. Land deals took place between private sector developers of social housing and rural landowners governed under the private property and ejidal land tenure regimes. This research is one of the first to explore in more detail how peri-urban land acquisition processes in large metropolitan areas take place. Besides an examination of the land acquisition process, its effect on informal housing options in the peri-urban area has been explored as well. The results show that more efforts should be made to improve the position of ejidal landowners, associations organizing social housing, and land and social housing invaders.