Divide and Sell: Real Estate Promotion in the Colonia Artesanos of Guadalajara, 1898-1908

Abstract

A variety of urban agents began to offer real estate promotions in the city of Guadalajara from 1898. Thus developed the first middle-class "colonias" that soon would turn out to be accompanied by an offer directed to the popular classes. The urban design is analyzed and the initial process of buying and selling of lots of the Colonia Artesanos that would end using the concept of "barrio", given its popular character determined by its location in a physically and socially devalued site. The economic accessibility was also influenced by the fact that small parcels were offered. Via notarial registers it was possible to document the census of buyers and purchases made between 1903 and 1908 and a map of land prices was prepared at a scale that permits one to discover internal differences and to make an interpretation of the underlying logics.