Our Recommendations
Our recommendations are grounded in what we learned from the people of Renca and shaped by the strengths already present in the community. Rather than imposing outside solutions, we focused on actionable, place-based strategies that address key challenges like spatial inequality, safety, disconnection, and underinvestment.
Recommendation 1: Space Activation
Space Activation focuses on transforming underutilized public spaces, especially around the future Line 7 metro stations, into vibrant, safe, and welcoming areas. During our engagement, residents consistently emphasized the need for more places to gather outside of Plaza de Renca, particularly in areas perceived as unsafe or isolated from the rest of the community. By introducing tactical plazas, community-led street art, and youth programming, we aim to foster activity and visibility in key corridors. These interventions not only make public spaces more inviting but also help cultivate a sense of safety through presence and participation.
Our proposal builds on strategies the municipality has already begun, such as murals and plaza upgrades, by expanding them into new high-impact areas identified through our data collected during engagements. By focusing on community involvement, like youth-led art projects and intergenerational programming, street activation becomes more than a physical intervention, it becomes a tool for social connection. These changes can be implemented quickly and affordably, offering immediate benefits while setting the stage for long-term revitalization opportunities across Renca’s evolving urban landscape.
A snapshot of what Recna could look like after implementing the space activation interventions.
Recommendation 2: Green Sustainability Network
The Green Sustainability Network is a plan to expand and connect green spaces across Renca, addressing the uneven distribution of vegetation and public parks throughout the commune. Our engagement revealed how deeply residents value nature, particularly the hills. Yet many neighborhoods lack access to shade, trees, and inviting outdoor spaces. To bridge this gap, we propose a network of green corridors and pocket parks anchored by Eco-Schools. This globally successful model engages students in environmental stewardship and place-based learning.
These interventions are designed to meet both ecological and social goals. Green corridors would provide shaded, walkable paths linking key destinations across Renca, while pocket parks would offer small but impactful areas for rest, play, and community gathering. By rooting this network in local schools, the strategy promotes environmental sustainability and fosters pride and engagement among young residents. Together, these elements form a connected system that improves daily life, encourages active transportation, and reflects the community’s strong relationship with its natural landscape.
Connecting Renca with Green Corridors and Pocket Parks.
Recommendation 3: Mixed-Use Development
Our Mixed-Use Development recommendation seeks to activate underutilized areas, especially near the future Line 7 metro stations, by encouraging a mix of residential, commercial, and community uses. While central Renca already hosts informal businesses and vibrant street life, many parts of the commune, especially in the west, remain industrial and disconnected. The arrival of the metro presents a unique opportunity to reimagine these spaces not just as transit nodes, but as thriving community hubs. By fostering mixed-use activity, we aim to create walkable, livable environments where residents can access goods, services, and opportunities close to home.
To support this transformation, we recommend a combination of public realm improvements and economic incentives, such as tax credits for home-based entrepreneurship and small business support programs. When paired with other interventions, like tactical plazas and pocket parks, mixed-use development becomes a driver of safety, connection, and long-term sustainability. It’s not just about new buildings; it’s about building a more inclusive and resilient future for Renca.
Mixed-Use Tactical Plaza
Recommendation 4: Renca UDIC
The Renca UDIC is our proposal for a municipally operated Urban Development and Investment Corporation, a long-term governance structure designed to coordinate planning, investment, and implementation across sectors. Inspired by successful models of inclusive urban governance, the UDIC would serve as an engine for community-centered development, ensuring that projects are guided by local priorities and stewarded with transparency. Its mission is to align infrastructure, housing, business development, and civic participation under one coordinated framework, helping Renca grow on its own terms.
This entity would bring together diverse stakeholders, including municipal agencies, private sector partners, community organizations, and residents. It would distribute risk, foster accountability, and help secure sustainable funding through public-private partnerships. Building on Renca’s success with initiatives like La Fábrica, the UDIC would institutionalize this momentum, shifting from one-off projects to a sustained process of transformation. Ultimately, it’s not just about delivering interventions, it’s about co-producing them with the community, ensuring Renca’s future is inclusive, equitable, and resilient.
