Piedras Negras: Feasibility Study Trip Notes

May 25, 2007

by Rebecca South

"It's difficult to describe..."
"It's difficult to describe..."
"It's difficult to describe..."

That phrase went through my head over and over as Andrew and I traipsed around the Colonia called "Croc" today in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. Every bend in the sandy road opened up to what seemed and endless maze of shacks built out of cardboard, scrap metal and old pallets.

We met a dog with mange. We met elderly ladies and young families. There was an old cowboy in a rocking chair. Mostly we met kids. Curious little faces looking through fences, one with a tear stained face. Three kids had been playing in the concrete ditch, built to prevent flooding, full of garbage and debris. They let me take some close-ups-- I gave them a few pesos and got some bigger smiles. We watched them run around to the front of a slightly nicer building which clearly contained candy.

Music spilled out of the shacks and into the alleyways. Andrew remarked it felt like the jungle in Indonesia.

This is home to many who once dreamed the American Dream. Many live here who thought they could make a life across the border-- only to discover the border would become their home.

They live in danger every day. If a fire broke out in any home, the entire community would surely burn down. Two tornadoes, just one month ago, swept through Piedras Negras, this time missing la Croc. It is also in a low-lying area-- an area once wiped out by a major flood. The homes are next to a large train yard which recently had a derailment. If the train cars had contained ammonia or another toxic agent, many residents would surely have been poisoned.

Some people have access to water, which they have to share. A truck drove by honking it's horn, signaling it had clean water to sell for drinking. Some people can pay an electric bill. All use outhouses. Most living in la Croc will never be eligible for help under the current federal housing program.

Yesterday we met with the mayor, and today we met with the Public Works director. Our friends, Don Crabtree-- a dome enthusiast, and Raoul, Directore of Piedras Negras' Citizens' Advocacy Office set the appointments. It is clear the government wants to help these people-- and they are eager to work with us.

We agreed with Mayor Flores to provide him with a Project Proposition by the end of June. We will provide him with sample site layouts and floor plans. He has agreed to give us land and bring sewer and water to the site. We discussed the possibility of the city hooking up all the houses and building the roads. He said he would discuss it with the Senior Montenegro, the Public Works Director.

Senior Montenegro provided us with some parameters to work within. The minimum size of new home construction equals a 24' -25' diameter dome. The minimum lot size is 120 sq. meters. The streets, including the sidewalks, are 13 meters wide. The roads are 9 meters wide.

We plan to do cost projections based on three options:

Option 1:
50 homes
Green Space/Park
1.25 hectare site

Option 2:
75 homes
2 Green Space/Park
Municipal or Commercial Development space
2.25 hectare site

Option 3:
100 homes
2 or 3 Green Space/Park
Municipal or Commercial Development Space
3.25 hectare site

The homes will be 2 or 3 bedrooms with a clothes washing sink outside. They will have simple bathrooms and kitchens. The sites will be designed to be pedestrian-friendly, but allow for increase in automobile traffic.

The Proposition will include:

• Background information on the city of Piedras Negras
• Illustration of individuals and why this area needs assistance
• Basic information on the Monolithic EcoShell and how it's introduction can help
• Information on the leaders of Piedras Negras
• Information on the Domes for the World Foundation (DFTW)
• How a partnership can be created
• Important project roles and requirements of the City and its Leaders
• Important roles and requirements of DFTW
• Sample home plans and pictorial models
• Sample community layouts
• Sample time schedule of development and construction

Related Links:

• Piedras Negras: Introduction
• New Ngelepen