The picture below is taken from the Eastern Main Road entering into Port of Spain. Do you know what building this is? Well its the view many do not get as most motorists take the alternative routes of highway or over the NP flyover. This is the back view of the NIPDEC car park. For those of you unfamiliar with this building, yes it is a car park but look closely enough it is multifunctional and multifaceted. It is also a haven, a home for the many street dwellers ( I prefer the term socially displaced) within my beloved city. This building is not even 15 years old and being of dual function and utilized by the state as home for humans it should be maintained. if you look close enough you will see some residents and their close being hung out on the railings. I personally feel something better can be done for these people and better facilities made. Their is so much development and land in the country. Money wasted on, well I'm not going into politics, but you get my jist; that an asylum or rehabilitation centre with state of the art technology and facilities be developed. A country needs to develop its people not just a city because its the people, cultures and activities which diversify and shape a city.
The following link is to an Express report and interview with some residents of the Car park: and what they think about their living conditions and the Government's approach:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/New-home-new-hope-131143253.html 
http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/economic-social-environmental-rundown/2010/11/17/id/377368
This link gives some perspective on urban decay. I think it summarizes all the aspects to be considered on this topic and it is easy and short reading. It takes into consideration urban form form and structure, urban politics and the lifestyle and culture within these areas of the abandoned or neglected urban areas.
Urban
Decay
Slowly descending
The spiral staircase
Into urban decay
On this night long journey -
Preceded by flashlight
And followed by the full moon,
Whose eyes hold us all in
His view as the street light
Flickers in and out in orange shades.
The spiral staircase
Into urban decay
On this night long journey -
Preceded by flashlight
And followed by the full moon,
Whose eyes hold us all in
His view as the street light
Flickers in and out in orange shades.
Owen Johnston
Could you give a bit more theory here? -- how does it relate to urban decay? Devil's advocate may say that the more successful a city is, the more homeless you should expect to see because the brighter the city-lights (perceived economic opportunities) the greater the pull -- in depressed or decaying urban areas, there will be few homeless -- perhaps this is linked to why there are so few homeless in rural towns?
ReplyDeleteGreat pic!