The border city of Juarez, Mexico, has been a flashpoint in the drug-fueled violence that has plagued many parts of Mexico. Recent figures show that nearly 25% of the homes there have been abandoned.
"Rows upon rows of houses have been abandoned in this housing project located on the southeast side of the city. People left because of the lack of security or the lack of work. The few who stayed have nowhere else to go.
"Back home, you either work at the mines or with the narcos," said a maquiladora worker from Parral who preferred not to be identified.
About a quarter of the homes in Juárez are empty due to the massive exodus of people who have fled the current wave of violence, and the urban planning mistakes of the past."
The empty areas are now harboring even more criminal activity, which has many locals worried about the likelihood of finding a long-term solution.
FULL STORY: Flight brings plight: About 25% of Juárez homes sit empty, as residents flee drug war violence
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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