Perspectivas sociales de la apropiación del espacio público y sus usos a partir del comercio informal en el barrio Aeropuerto de la ciudad de Cúcuta

Abstract

This article presents the results of a research study on the social perspectives of people regarding the various forms of use and appropriation of public space through informality in the Aeropuerto neighborhood of the city of San José de Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. Cúcuta’s border location and commercial nature are determining factors that position it as one of the cities with the highest rates of informality in the country. Additionally, economic limitations, unemployment, and migration have accelerated the increase of this phenomenon, making it both a means of subsistence and an accessible practice.
The research sought to understand, from the experiences of residents, merchants, and passersby, how informal commerce has shaped the conditions of urban space and its impact. The most evident findings are the noticeable physical deterioration, the construction of symbols of attachment and possession, the constant conflicts over the appropriation of space, and, at the same time, a loss of its true functionality as a place for socialization and integration.