Project 1: Colonia Federal

Above: La Casa del Tunel

Colonia Federal is a small community on the Tijuana side of the US-Mexico Border immediately adjacent to the San Ysidro Border Station. The older community consists of 8 blocks of relatively low residential lots (2-3 story buildings, typical). Currently, there are 500 hundred residents in the area. Adjacent to the housing is a deteriorating shopping complex, once intended as an economic anchor for the area, but now home to a variety of informal occupancies. In addition to the neighborhood, this area is host to a series of informal programs and economies, dealing with everything from taxi and bus transit, pharmacy and health care, auto import and title agencies, as well as tourist shopping. Finally, with the adjacent highway infrastructure (both existing and proposed), this area is essentially cut off from the center of Tijuana, and the greater region. Although this has helped maintain a relatively safe and authentic feel to the place, there is great concern for the neighborhood's future economic sustainability.


At the heart of Colonia Federal is la Casa del Tunel (the Tunnel House) owned by Luis & Gerda Ituarte. This historic Arts Center was once the location of an illegal tunnel which many used to cross the US-Mexico border before it was discovered in 2004. After several years of litigation, the owners have once again claimed this building with a vision to establish an artists community hoping help spark a new life and energy into the larger community.

Luis Ituarte

Preliminary meeting with Luis (Prof. Rene Peralta speaking)

Home for future potential community garden plots

US-Mexico Border (from La Casa del Tunel's Balcony)

US-Mexico Border traffic (from pedestrian bridge)

Street vendors work their way through the bumper-to-bumper traffic

Yellow taxis line the streets immediately outside the border crossing

Tijuana River Canal (1960's government project)

The only South/West pedestrian connection from Colonia Federal into Tijuana City

Illegal immigrants in the process of deportation...getting sent back into Mexico

Photos are typically not allowed here - this was taken in haste at 5:45am one morning while we were crossing into Tijuana. Illegals are lined up, names listed, and sent on their way. Many of them are from various parts of Mexico (not Tijuana), and have no relatives, no home, no money. Often, they find their way into Colonia Federal knocking on doors asking for help. As a resident, who's to know if someone is knocking on your door for legitimate need, or if they have criminal intentions behind their motives? There is need for a Migrants' Center.

Streetscape at the edge of Colonia Federal

The streets just outside Colonia Federal are lined with these auto agencies, looking for business with car imports. Across the street are many pharmacies, dentists, and health care providers primarly attracting US residents looking for cheaper services without the need for health insurance.