Federal Capital Commission

Federal Capital Commission
Abbreviation	NFCC
Formation	1686 AN
Purpose/focus	Selection of a site, design, and construction of a new national federal capital.
Chairperson	Queen Alexandra of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Vice Chairperson	Hyacinthe Betancourt

The Federal Capital Commission (FCC) is a joint committee created by the Federal Constituent Assembly to select the site, design, and build a new capital city for the Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie. The FCC is composed of representatives from the Federal Capital District and surrounding communities, representatives of the King, the Cortes Federales (2 Peers, 5 Deputies), and three representatives from every Region of the Federation.

In 1686 AN, the FCC officially selected the Cárdenas Plan, which was to rebuild the old Alexandrian city of Cárdenas under a new urban plan using the ruins and remaining layout as the starting point of the new capital, using the "Old City" as the "cornerstone" of the new capital. Architect Hyacinthe Betancourt submitted and designed the plan, and upon its approval, was named Chief Architect and Vice-Chair of the Commission. The Commission has established that development of the Federal Capital District shall take place in three stages:

1. (1686 AN-1689 AN) Transfer of the government from Parap and Punta Santiago to Cárdenas, construction of housing, government and security facilities, and basic infrastructure;
2. (1690 AN-1694 AN) Construction of parks, monuments, public transport, airport, railways, roads, highways, and other key buildings and infrastructure;
3. (1695 AN-1697 AN) Create character and permanence in the capital, construction of more housing and transport infrastructure to improve connectivity, deployment of financial subsidies from the local government budget to incentivize people to move and work in the new capital city.

Betancourt became instrumental in developing Cárdenas into a striking and dense "garden city" that represents both Aldurian and Wechua elements while restoring and keeping some of its old Alexandrian character and planning. Many of the ruins of the city were restored whenever the plan allowed for restoration.

Membership

The FCC's membership structure was deliberately designed to represent a balance of regional, royal, and federal interests. The leadership of the committee consisted of a Chief Architect, along with key officers. Notable members include:

1. Queen Alexandra - Chairperson
2. Hyacinthe Betancourt - Chief Architect and Vice-Chair
3. Martin Schmidt - Secretary
4. Isabel Nagata - Treasurer
5. Valerio Quispe Llacta - Chief of Infrastructure Development
6. Catalina Montalván - Chief of Public Transport
7. Tomás Collado - Chief of Roads and Waterways
8. Martín Velasco - Chief of Utilities
9. Rocío Ñawi Illanes - Chief of Parks and Recreation
10. Mateo Rimachi - Chief Surveyor

Numerous advisers and federal officials also had a seat on the commission, including the President of the Government, the Secretary of Civil Works and Transportation, the Secretary of Communications, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Culture and Sports.

Organization

The FCC was deliberately divided into several subcommittees, each responsible for different aspects of the capital's development:

• Site and Land Use Committee - oversees zoning, expropriation of land, and settlement disputes.
• Infrastructure and Transport Committee - supervises construction of roads, railways, subways, ports, and airport.
• Architecture and Heritage Committee - supervises the preservation of previous Santander heritage and oversees the adherence to overall design principles.
• Finance Committee - manages allocations from federal funds and negotiates with private contractors and investors.
• Community and Settlers Committee - oversees the relocation of populations and incentive schemes for migration into Cárdenas.
• Urban Development and Housing Committee - in charge of residential planning and supervising the construction of housing for officials, workers, and incoming settlers.
• Public Health and Sanitation Committee - in charge of access to clean water, sewage treatment, and hospital facilities.
• Utilities and Energy Committee - manages the establishment of essential services such as electricity, gas, waterworks, and telecommunications.
• Parks and Monuments Committee - oversees the creation of national monuments, memorials, museums, and ceremonial spaces; as well as the development of green spaces, urban parks, and gardens.
• Commerce and Industry Committee - coordinates the planning of commercial and industrial zones, retail space, and banking infrastructure.
• Education and Culture Committee - supervises the construction of schools, universities, libraries, and cultural institutions.

The Cárdenas Plan

The winning proposal, authored by Hyacinthe Betancourt, envisioned a "garden city" model combining dense urban cores, expansive green boulevards and spaces, and planned residential, commercial, and industrial neighborhoods. The plan integrated Wechuan and Santander cultural elements into the architecture and publis spaces, while preserving significant ruins and street patterns of the old Alexandrian city as part of a broader program of urban heritage revival.

The city itself was concentrated upon the construction of key so-called 'functional districts', with the most important being the Government District, Culture Sector, University District, and Banking Sector. There is a large list of major landmarks and public works rpjects, ranging from the new Royal Palace, the Cárdenas City Zoo, and the University of Cárdenas; to the vital International Airport and Central Train Station.

Criticism

The FCC and the Cárdenas Plan, while celebrated as ambitious, have faced significant challenges and criticisms.

Cost overruns with move

The relocation of government functions and staff from Parap and Punta Santiago exceeded initial budget projections by nearly 40%, owing to rising material costs, underestimation of housing demand, and logistical issues in transporting records, archiving, and institutions. Opposition figures, particularly the Social Democratic and Liberal Alliance, in the Cortes Federales accused the FCC of poor financial oversight and nepotism in contract bidding, however this was never proven.

Heritage vs. Modernization

Some critics argue that the emphasis on restoring Alexandrian ruins slowed construction and inflated costs, while others welcomed it as essential to the symbolic legitimacy of the new capital.

Social Impact

The resettlement of populations - many of them Aldurian and Valencian - has created tensions, as subsidies and preferential contracts were sometimes accused of favoring Santander elites over Wechua and Alexandrian communities. The rapid pace of urbanization also strained early infrastructure.

See also

• Cárdenas.