Strategies of Territorial Ordering in the Colombian Historical Centers

Regarding to Historical Centers with National Declaration in relation to the “urban territorial ordering” of the municipalities to which they belong, it is confirmed that complying with Law 388/97 only the categories Territorial Ordering Plan (Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial – POT) and Territorial Ordering Basic Plan (Plan Básico de Ordenamiento Territorial – PBOT) include the subject of historical ensemble; as if no municipality with (Territorial Ordering Outline (Esquema de Ordenamiento Territorial –EOT) and less than 30.000 inhabitants had a Historical Center. This requires more than the “isolated application” of the Culture Law 397/97 through the Special Plans of Patrimonial Management (Plan Especial de Manejo Patrimonial – PEMP), being necessary to adjust the scope of the urban contents de the POT, PBOT and especially EOT of the municipalities with Historical Centers giving guarantee to its protection. Therefore, the PEMPs cannot be receptors of the lack of coverage of the POT, PBOT and EOT, but these last ones should develop the patrimonial topic. Besides, as “the city is historical but also dynamic”, other spatial and economic strategies are posed for the protection of the Historic Centers; such as the definition of the different urban treatments and the implementation of management and financing instruments; as well as the strengthening of the “touristic offer” as a competitive strategy of the municipalities to which they belong, with cultural appropriation initiatives and, local economic and social development.