Urban confl icts over the space. The case of Manizales, Colombia

Colombian cities are characterised not only by very dynamic development and growth of built-up areas, but also by progressive socio-spatial segregation. In addition, most cities are located in mountainous areas, where topography is an additional factor in the diversity of development forms. The population is poor, and most often occupies areas with a high level of risk from landslides, torrential rains and mudslides. The poor district of San José, located in the centre of Manizales, occupies precisely such diffi cult to build up areas. However, due to its central location, the areas it occupies are the subject of land speculation and developers’ investment plans. Their strategy leads to evicting the population from the mountain slopes that their poor huts occupy. The local authorities have no idea how to solve this problem.