Nearly eight years after the devastating Mw = 7.1 Puebla-Morelos earthquake of September 19, 2017, Mexico City’s housing sector is still on the road to recovery. The quake, which struck near the boundary of Puebla and Morelos states, left a significant mark on the city’s housing landscape, with thousands of homes and apartment buildings damaged or destroyed. The recovery process, as detailed in a recent study published in ‘Resilient Cities and Structures’ (translated as ‘Ciudades y Estructuras Resilientes’), has been a mixed bag of success and ongoing challenges.
Arturo Tena-Colunga, a professor at the Departamento de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Azcapotzalco in Mexico City, has been tracking the recovery efforts. His research reveals that while single-family homes have largely bounced back, the recovery of apartment buildings lags behind. “The recovery process of single-family houses has been a success,” Tena-Colunga notes, “as close to 100% of the affected homes have been fully recovered with much better projects than the originally damaged.” This resurgence in single-family housing is a positive sign for the city’s social and economic fabric.
However, the story is different for apartment buildings. As of May 2025, only 59.6% of the affected buildings have been fully recovered, with just 31.3% of those recoveries funded by public funds. Another 11.3% are under construction or rehabilitation, while a concerning 29.1% have seen no action towards recovery. “The recovery process of apartment buildings, although important, still has a long way to go,” Tena-Colunga emphasizes.
The commercial impacts of this uneven recovery are significant. The housing sector is a cornerstone of urban economic activity, and the slow recovery of apartment buildings could have ripple effects throughout the city’s economy. For instance, the delay in rebuilding could affect local businesses that rely on residential traffic, as well as the construction industry itself, which has been a key player in the recovery efforts.
Moreover, the disparity in recovery rates between single-family homes and apartment buildings raises questions about urban planning and policy. Why has one sector recovered more swiftly than the other? What can be done to accelerate the recovery of apartment buildings? These are critical questions that city planners, policymakers, and investors need to address.
Tena-Colunga’s research also highlights the importance of public funding in the recovery process. The fact that only a third of the recovered apartment buildings were funded by public money underscores the need for increased investment in urban resilience. This could open up opportunities for the energy sector, particularly in developing innovative, energy-efficient building solutions that can withstand future seismic events.
The study also serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters. As climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of such events, cities around the world must prioritize resilient infrastructure. This could drive demand for advanced materials and technologies that can enhance the durability and sustainability of buildings.
In conclusion, Tena-Colunga’s research offers valuable insights into the recovery process of Mexico City’s housing sector post-earthquake. It underscores the need for targeted policies and increased investment to ensure a more equitable and swift recovery. As the city continues to rebuild, the lessons learned here could shape future developments in urban resilience and disaster recovery, not just in Mexico City, but globally.