Nordelta - Advice Please!

[RodalfoWalsh]

I have nothing against Nordelta, I think it is definitely a better place than where I live. What I am against is the whole "barrio cerrado" approach. Very classist, in my opinion.
That said, there are barrios cerrados in the US, in the Middle East and in Africa. I am not used to gated communities in Europe, we share everything, even poverty, crime and other "social diseases", but also beautiful landscapes, beaches and towns that are accessible to all and not only to those who have a pass on their windshield.

I understand if someone staying here temporarily want to be shielded against the ugly stuff of this country. I don't understand it as a life choice, though.
What I am for is an approach where one says "how can I contribute to make my town livable?" not where the approach is "thanks god I have the money to forget what is out there!".
I don't see barrio cerrados in the long run because they are not a solution, they are a patch to consequences of various unaddressed problems. What will happen if everybody moves to a barrio cerrado? Well, crime will start reaching "lower class" barrios cerrados, "higher" class barrios will be less affordable and more elitist. So don't feel that much "safe" in there. The nasty stuff will come to you, eventually.

Ok, this is turning into a socialist pamphlet, I'll stop here.

Oh pleeeeaaassseeeee.....!!!!!!

You live in a nice part of San Isidro!

 

[Girino]

I don't live in the fancy historical part, I live near the train station. At sunset, there are cartoneros and young mothers with their children harvesting in the garbage bins. One night I was heading out with guests, and while we were flashing past in the remise car, a man was sweeping with his finger an empty can of tuna from the garbage, he was are bare foot. I saw him other times after that night.

One Sunday morning I was heading toward the Disco on Centenario, and I saw a woman squatted behind a large garbage box taking a dump. No paper towels or tissues in hand.
I'd say this is less fancy than Recoleta. Less bustling, but less fancy. Definitely lower class than some areas of Palermo, as well.

 

[RodalfoWalsh]

I don't live in the fancy historical part, I live near the train station. At sunset, there are cartoneros and young mothers with their children harvesting in the garbage bins. One night I was heading out with guests, and while we were flashing past in the remise car, a man was sweeping with his finger an empty can of tuna from the garbage, he was are bare foot. I saw him other times after that night.

One Sunday morning I was heading toward the Disco on Centenario, and I saw a woman squatted behind a large garbage box taking a dump. No paper towels or tissues in hand.
I'd say this is less fancy than Recoleta. Less bustling, but less fancy. Definitely lower class than some areas of Palermo, as well.

This is so sad its almost not funny. Almost.

 

[el_expatriado]

I have nothing against Nordelta, I think it is definitely a better place than where I live. What I am against is the whole "barrio cerrado" approach. Very classist, in my opinion.
That said, there are barrios cerrados in the US, in the Middle East and in Africa. I am not used to gated communities in Europe, we share everything, even poverty, crime and other "social diseases", but also beautiful landscapes, beaches and towns that are accessible to all and not only to those who have a pass on their windshield.

I understand that for a European the barrio cerrado concept is probably pretty revolting. In a perfect world it wouldn't be necessary. In Europe where you have a combination of governments that have decided to invest in social services for all and efficient government, barrio cerrados are probably rare and unnecessary.

However, in Argentina the funds that are meant to go toward security, healthcare, education, and other social spending are lost to corruption and bad administration. So that means we can either put up with substandard services or else rely on private services. Most expats have a private obra social because they don't want to rely on the public health care system. Many of us live in buildings with private security. Living in a barrio cerrado is just taking things one step further. We simply rely on private trash collection, street cleaning, and security. It's not much different than living in a building with private security.

Saludos.