A participatory process experience promoted by private enterprise in the context of building new sustainable neighborhoods: The case of San Cayetano in Mejía, Quito Metropolitan Area, Ecuador

Abstract

This article analyzes the participatory-engagement process carried out with a community of owners of land in San Cayetano, Mejía, Ecuador in the context of the construction of a new neighborhood. The process, whose unifying thread is sustainability, involves the coexistence of a private company that promotes the initiative, and the public policies that facilitate access to housing. The research demonstrates that there is an opportunity to incorporate private companies into the creation of local communities, beyond pure urban development. Likewise, the study reveals that the neighbors have difficulty transitioning from self-building and informality to formal procedures. Lastly, the potential for integrating self-building into the company ́s business model is apparent.