Apartments available in Socialist City, Caribia near Caracas

[Bacchus4.0]

Just a suggestion for those interested in living the socialist dream.

http://caracaschronicles.com/2013/06/05/ciudad-caribia-life-in-a-socialist-city/

Not long ago, the Caracas housing complex known as Ciudad Caribia was being touted by the then-living comandante supremo as the model of a “21st Century socialist city”, but its brief existence has been pretty overwhelmed with problems since late 2006, when its construction began. Of the 20,000 planned apartments, only 1,666 have been delivered (with some unwanted flaws).

Almost two months ago, an incident between agents of the Bolivarian National Police and locals ended with one person dead and the destruction of the local PNB station by an angry mob. Since then, the National Guard has been in charge of security in the complex.

But there are other difficulties, as described in this recent report from Últimas Noticias. For example, it can take three hours of waiting in line for Ciudad Caribia’s inhabitants to enter the local Mercal. But only those lucky enough to get a number (either on a ticket or written in their arms) can buy a limited number of groceries.

Even if the residents of Ciudad Caribia are quite hopeful about their future, life over there ain’t easy. More so for those that dared to vote for Capriles in the last election.

[naaman fletcher]

1. This is what they are going to turn all ove VZLA into with the rationing.

Also

For example, it can take three hours of waiting in line for Ciudad Caribia’s inhabitants to enter the local Mercal

Why don't they just hire a driver to go to the grocery store?

[Bacchus4.0]

2. that would be my suggestion too. Perhaps if they built some community "pilas"

for washing clothes the community would coalesce better. Also, they can wash clothes while waiting for their number to be called at the Mercal.

[Flatulo]

3. Massive housing complexes did not work out here in the '60s. They became run down, and

the inhabitants, already poor, became even more destitute as criminal drug gangs moved in. The worst of these was the Cabrini Greens complex in Chigago. This development became so dangerous that the police refused to enter under any circumstances.

Most of these large concentrations of poverty have been torn down in favor of mixing subsidized public housing in with private housing.

[Daniel537]

4. Yeah, i'm sure these people would rather be on the streets.

The Right to Housing, oh what a horror.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. its like prison housing, but with worse services.

you'd have to ask those people where they would like to be.

[Socialistlemur]

6. Very few street people in Venezuela

I think there's a misconception here...there is essentially no street people in Venezuela. Sure, you can grab a camera and find a bum here and there. But they do have a roof. The problem is the lack of proper housing, the overcrowding, and the danger because so much housing was allowed to be built on steep slopes. When they have a large quake it's going to be really bad.

The problem I saw in a report written by an urban expert is the lack of all around comprehensive planning. What they need to do is encourage the development of business with decent jobs away from Caracas, not more building on the periphery when the city is in a valley and traffic is choking it. They need high speed transport to other valleys and the satellite housing has to be built with police stations, schools and hospitals. But a lot of at they do is for show. They waste a lot of money.