Final answer:
Latin/Ibero-American cities are characterized by a central plaza surrounded by important buildings, such as a church and government offices, a legacy of Spanish colonial urban planning. This design facilitated the distinction of social classes within the city, with wealthier residents living closer to this central axis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most outstanding common characteristic found in Latin/Ibero-American cities is their urban planning derived from the Spanish Empire's Law of the Indies.
This planning involved a centralized plaza or town common that served ceremonial purposes and was flanked by significant buildings like the Roman Catholic church and government offices.
This plaza was often connected to an elite spine, which was a grand boulevard that housed the wealthier classes and was a commercial district comprising markets and office complexes.
The Spanish Colonial City design, which includes the plaza-centric layout, can still be observed in many cities throughout Middle and South America.
Compared to North American cities where the urban poor often reside near the CBD (Central Business District), in Latin America, the poorest populations typically live in the far suburbs, due to inadequate public infrastructure in those areas.