Proceso de gentrificación en barrio San Francisco, Bucaramanga en el marco del desarrollo inmobiliario 2015-2022 (un análisis a la revalorización del uso del suelo)

Abstract

The following examines the phenomenon of gentrification in the San Francisco neighborhood of Bucaramanga between 2015 and 2022, during which the area experienced an urban transformation linked to real estate development and land revaluation. This phenomenon occurred as central areas with consolidated infrastructure attracted real estate and commercial investment, leading to increases in land values, rents, and taxes. Consequently, traditional residents were displaced, and new social and economic dynamics emerged. The urban change was evident: single-family homes were replaced by warehouses, workshops, and businesses, and with the implementation of the Land Use Plan (POT) 2014–2027, high-rise construction was allowed, attracting residential and mixed-use projects. Public investment in roads, lighting, and public spaces further encouraged the participation of developers and buyers, generating land speculation. Between 2015 and 2022, the price per square meter tripled, the socioeconomic stratum increased, and the population declined. Three main agents of the process were identified: the State, the real estate market, and the property owners, who sold or rented their properties seeking greater profitability. These factors reshaped the urban landscape, consolidating commercial corridors, new facilities, and improved services, but also causing loss of neighborhood identity, weakening of community ties, and an increase in transient population. In conclusion, gentrification in San Francisco brought economic and urban renewal benefits, but at a high social cost for the original residents, revealing how real estate markets and public policies reshape the social structure of cities.