Planetizen Takes a Look at Latino Urbanism

Latinos are also prolific gardeners, especially in places wherecommunity gardens are accessible, and they use temporary farmersmarkets as community gathering places rather than just venues to buyproduce. And whereas homeowners association guidelines often dictatewhat shade of paint a suburban house may wear, Latino neighborhoods areadorned with murals, hand-painted storefronts, and other“do-it-yourself design interventions,” according to Rojas.

Though it may look like idle loitering, Latino social life and evencommerce take place on streetcorners, strip-mall parking lots, andsidewalks, many of which are cramped and narrow yet provide crucialspace in which day laborers find jobs and street vendors sell food andwares from pushcarts and vans. And because their rates of car ownershipare relatively low, Latinos tend to use sidewalks for the novel purposeof walking.

“Latinos are going to continue to take advantage of any open spacethat’s available,” said Los Angeles City Council Member Ed Reyes. “Wecome from a cultural tradition of mercados and central plazas.”