Ensanche de Vallecas is a district in the city of Madrid. It was originally conceived in 1997 as a way to combat the expanding population of Madrid: named as Plan of Urban Action of Vallecas (PAU). The district is officially constituted in 2017.

      While the apartments were generally constructed of acceptable quality, the neighborhood remains unpopular to buyers. The ‘dormitory town’ image is a large factor for many people that do not want to purchase property in Ensanche de Vallecas: the wide lanes that conveys a sense of empty, the lack of social and economic programs, and the large empty shopping centers that squashes small local businesses are all contributing factors. Further worsening the problem is the presence of a waste recycling plant close by to the neighborhood. Many residents reports terrible odor on a day to day basis, and there seems to be no action on the city’s part to resolve these issues. Meanwhile, more construction for residential buildings are still going on in the district.

      During the time these buildings sat empty, high crime rate began raring its head in the community. Large organized crime organizations have taken over many vacant buildings, making the residents of the community feel unsafe. Drug uses is common within the area, and parks are occupied often for drug trades.

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EL MUNDO: PAU de Vallecas, el barrio abandonado por todos