Conjunto Urbano Nonoalco Tlatelolco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nonoalco Tlatelolco
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Neighborhood of Mexico City
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Location of Nonoalco Tlatelolco (in red) within Cuauhtémoc borough
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| Country |  Mexico |
| City |  Mexico City |
| Borough | Cuauhtémoc |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.945 km2 (0.365 sq mi) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 27,843 |
| Postal code |
06900
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The Conjunto Urbano Nonoalco Tlatelolco is a very large apartment complex in Mexico City. It is the biggest apartment complex in Mexico. It is also the second largest in North America, after Co-op City in New York.
This huge complex is located in the Cuauhtémoc area of Mexico City. It was built in the 1960s by a famous architect named Mario Pani. When it was first built, it had 102 apartment buildings. It was like a "city within a city" because it had its own schools, hospitals, and stores. It was also designed to be a nice place to live, with murals and green spaces like the Santiago Tlatelolco Garden.
Today, the complex is smaller and some parts are not in good condition. This is mostly because of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. This earthquake caused some buildings to fall right away. Others had to be taken down later. More buildings were damaged by other earthquakes. Many people moved out or sold their apartments because repairs were not done well.
Now, the complex has 90 apartment buildings. It is divided into three parts. These parts are surrounded by important streets like Avenida de los Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma. At first, people from all different income levels lived here. But today, most residents are middle to lower income.
Contents
Building the Complex
President Adolfo López Mateos ordered this complex to be built. Construction happened between 1960 and 1965. The area where it stands has been an important place for a very long time. Before the Spanish arrived, it was an independent city on an island. It was famous for its large market.
The modern apartment complex was built over an old train yard. It surrounds the Plaza de las Tres Culturas. This plaza shows Mexico's past and present. It has ancient Aztec ruins, a colonial church, and modern buildings.
The project was huge, covering a large area. It included 130 buildings, schools, hospitals, and markets. The most famous building was the Torre Insignia. This tower is 127 meters (417 feet) tall and has 24 floors. It was built in a triangle shape to help it resist earthquakes. The tower has a special musical instrument called a carillon. It has 47 bells made in Belgium.
The complex was planned to have three sections. One section was for families with less money. Another was for the middle class. The third section was for wealthier people. The main park, called the Santiago Tlatelolco Garden, was designed to be a beautiful green space. Many murals were painted on the buildings. One important mural on the Aguascalientes Building shows the history of Tlatelolco.
Mario Pani was the architect who designed this project. He was born in 1911 and studied in Paris. He wanted to make Mexico City modern. His work focused on large apartment buildings. These were called "super (city) blocks." He changed how housing was built, moving from spread-out homes to tall buildings. His designs were simple and grand. They became symbols of Mexico's growth.
Nonoalco-Tlatelolco became his most famous work. He wanted it to be a "city within a city." The idea was that residents would have everything they needed nearby.
Challenges Over Time
Life in the complex became harder after an event in 1968. The area's fire station closed, and there were fewer police. This led to more crime. The complex also had some damage from small earthquakes in 1979.
However, the biggest problems started with the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Before this quake, the complex had 102 apartment buildings. It also had medical centers, schools, and businesses. About 80,000 people lived there.
The complex is in an area that is very risky for earthquakes. This is because it sits on old lakebed soil. This soft soil can make earthquake shaking much stronger.
During the 1985 earthquake, parts of the Nuevo León building fell. Many people were affected. Other buildings were badly damaged. In the months after the quake, 12 buildings were so damaged they had to be torn down. Many other buildings needed big repairs. Some buildings were left standing but were too dangerous to live in.
The city government promised to rebuild and repair the complex. However, the project took a long time. The money ran out, and repairs were often done poorly. Many residents sold their apartments cheaply or left them.
Another earthquake in 1993 caused more buildings to be torn down. The Torre Insignia was left empty that same year. Even though repairs were officially finished in 1995, many buildings still had cracks and other problems.
More damage happened in 2007 from another earthquake.
The Complex Today
The complex covers a large area of about 946,000 square meters. It is still the biggest apartment complex in Mexico. About 55,000 people live there today. Many of them are older adults.
A lot of the space, about 28%, is green areas, sidewalks, and roads. The main road through the complex is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long. There are 22 schools, health clinics, a hospital, and social clubs. There is also a Metro stop and a cultural building.
Since 1985, some safety steps have been taken. Buildings are inspected, and loose decorations are removed. But the complex still faces challenges. Many residents feel the government has not done enough to help. Some also think residents need to work together more to care for shared spaces.
Two main problems are crime and the condition of the buildings. The complex and nearby areas have high crime rates. There are not enough police to keep the area safe. This has allowed gangs to become active. Robberies and car thefts are common.
The buildings themselves also have problems. Many are leaning, and the ground beneath is sinking. Residents worry about new construction projects nearby. They fear these projects could cause more damage to the buildings.
Other issues include homeless people, graffiti, and flooding. There are also problems with garbage collection, which leads to rats. Parks and common areas are sometimes damaged.
Main Buildings
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Buildings That No Longer Exist
- 20 de Noviembre (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Atizapan (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Huizachal (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Oaxaca (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Tecpan (Jalisco) (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Tecpan II (Oaxaca) (87 meters, 24 floors)
- Churubusco (58 meters, 15 floors)
- Guelatao (58 meters, 16 floors)
- Nuevo León (58 meters, 15 floors)
- Ignacio Comonfort (8 floors)
- Ignacio M. Altamirano (8 floors)
- Jesús Terán (8 floors)
- Ponciano Arriaga (8 floors)
See also
In Spanish: Conjunto Urbano Nonoalco Tlatelolco para niños
