Residential Patterns and the Model
Santiago fits the Latin
American cities model almost perfectly. The central business district
lies at the center of the city. Next to the CBD is an area of high
density housing called conventillos. Traditionally, these tenement buildings
were occupied by low income residents of the city. Today, however,
these apartment buildings are occupied by middle income residents seeking
a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Santiago city proper corresponds to the zone
of maturity on the map of the model. The zone of maturity consists
old homes that are currently occupied by the middle classes; Santiago
has a wealth of preserved older homes. The spine seen on the model
refers to a road lined with businesses leading out to wealthier suburbs which
are Vitacura, Providencia, and Las Condes. In Santiago, this road would
be the Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, referred to as the Alameda.
The Alameda runs through the central business district until the city limit
of Santiago. It then changes course slightly and is called Avenida Providencia.
This pleasant road is lined with businesses and ornate mansions and
leads one to the elite suburbs. The most desirable neighborhoods of
greater Santiago line up 
alongside the Alameda and Avenida. As in the model, squatter
settlements are found on the periphery of greater Santiago. These
settlements are located on the southern extreme of the city and in the
NW corner. Overall, Santiago is a good fit to the Latin American
cities model.