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EspañolEL CONDADO,_PUERTO_RICO
(Redirected from Condado)
'El Condado' ("The County") is a middle to upper class, tree-lined, vibrant pedestrian-oriented community
in San Juan, Puerto Rico east of the historic colonial district of Old San Juan. It is one 40 “sub-barrios” of Santurce. The land area measures 0.82 km² (824,791 m²), with a resident population of 6,170 as of U.S. Census of 2000. The eastern border is marked by De Diego Avenue and its straight extension towards the Atlantic coast. On the south, the district is bounded by Wilson Street, Aldea Street, Expreso Baldorioty de Castro, Piccioni Street and Delicasse Street, and by the Condado Lagoon (from east to west). The westernmost point is Condado Bridge, better known as “Puente Dos Hermanos”, where Ashford Avenue ends and leads into Old San Juan. In the north are the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.
Its location close to historic Old San Juan, beaches, hotels and other attractions such as nightclubs, casinos, shops and restaurants make the district of El Condado a tourist destination which is often likened to Miami Beach.
El Condado begins its process of urbanization in 1908 by two American industrialists, its growth and development was mostly shaped by transportation-influenced suburbanization and developed on a grid plan. El Condado becomes a typical “Streetcar suburb” in the style of United States.
El Condado experienced a boom at the turn of the century when some of the wealthiest families built their homes in the area. The Vanderbilts built a summer home in 1919 which today has been converted into the Condado Plaza, a luxury hotel. The Behn brothers, founders of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company which later spawned ITT, also built their home in the area as well as the bridge which honors their name, “Two Brothers Bridge” (Puente Dos Hermanos) constructed among other things for the new electric streetcar line that linked El Condado to Old San Juan. Ashford Avenue, named after another well-known Condado resident Dr. Bailey Ashford, runs through the district and leads toward the Two Brother's Bridge.[1]
The 1950s-60s saw another boom in El Condado, with the rapid industrialization of Puerto Rico, El Condado was becoming a popular tourist destination. Large hotels, mainly sponsored by the government as part of Operation Bootstrap where built. These included the Caribe Hilton, and La Concha hotels. A convention center was built which hosted many activities. Many Puerto Rican families started to move into the area and high-rise apartment buildings began to be built.
El Condado looks quite different from what it did at the turn of the century. Some of the luxurious homes which still remain nestled between the high-rise condominiums have been converted into small Inns, shops, museums or restaurants. Dr. Bailey Ashford's home has been remodeled and there are plans in turning it into a museum.
International celebrities are often sighted in the area, as well as well-known Puerto Ricans who have called El Condado home - José Miguel Agrelot, and Lourdes Chacon (sister of the also famous dancer Iris Chacon) are among them. Marvin Hagler was sighted vacationing there in 1983 after his fight against Roberto Duran. Today it is also common to see couples taking strolls down "El Paseo de Don Juan", a sea side road to enjoy the sunset and children playing in some of the many parks in the area.
El Condado has also been the scene of tragedies such as the Karl Wallenda televised tight rope fall in 1978, and the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire which killed 97 people on December 31, 1986.
El Condado's success as a popular residential and tourist spot is taking a toll in the infrastructure and residents. While properties in El Condado tend to be expensive, it is also often traffic congested and residents have to contend with high noise levels even at late hours due to the nightclubs and other attractions. Plans are currently underway to attempt to alleviate the traffic congestion with the improvement of bridges, provide more pedestrianized social spaces, a new park, “La Gran Ventana al Mar” or Grand Window to the Sea where the old convention center used to be, (A newer bigger convention center with better access has been built just outside of the district) and other projects such as the “Condado Beach Trio” which aims to restore historic hotels, among these the Condado Beach (also known as The Vanderbilt) and La Concha hotel.
1. Cangrejos - Santurce - Authors; Aníbal Sepúlveda, Jorge Carbonell, Centro de Investigaciones CARIMAR, Oficina Estatal de Preservación Histórica. (Spanish)
★ Tourism in Puerto Rico
Census 2000 map of Condado
'El Condado' ("The County") is a middle to upper class, tree-lined, vibrant pedestrian-oriented community
in San Juan, Puerto Rico east of the historic colonial district of Old San Juan. It is one 40 “sub-barrios” of Santurce. The land area measures 0.82 km² (824,791 m²), with a resident population of 6,170 as of U.S. Census of 2000. The eastern border is marked by De Diego Avenue and its straight extension towards the Atlantic coast. On the south, the district is bounded by Wilson Street, Aldea Street, Expreso Baldorioty de Castro, Piccioni Street and Delicasse Street, and by the Condado Lagoon (from east to west). The westernmost point is Condado Bridge, better known as “Puente Dos Hermanos”, where Ashford Avenue ends and leads into Old San Juan. In the north are the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.
Its location close to historic Old San Juan, beaches, hotels and other attractions such as nightclubs, casinos, shops and restaurants make the district of El Condado a tourist destination which is often likened to Miami Beach.
View of Condado from the Caribe Hilton Hotel with Fort San Jeronimo in the Foreground
Gran Ventana al Mar Park, Condado. “La Barca” artwork piece by Víctor Vázquez
Aerial view of El Condado
| Contents |
| History |
| El Condado today |
| References |
| See also |
History
El Condado begins its process of urbanization in 1908 by two American industrialists, its growth and development was mostly shaped by transportation-influenced suburbanization and developed on a grid plan. El Condado becomes a typical “Streetcar suburb” in the style of United States.
El Condado experienced a boom at the turn of the century when some of the wealthiest families built their homes in the area. The Vanderbilts built a summer home in 1919 which today has been converted into the Condado Plaza, a luxury hotel. The Behn brothers, founders of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company which later spawned ITT, also built their home in the area as well as the bridge which honors their name, “Two Brothers Bridge” (Puente Dos Hermanos) constructed among other things for the new electric streetcar line that linked El Condado to Old San Juan. Ashford Avenue, named after another well-known Condado resident Dr. Bailey Ashford, runs through the district and leads toward the Two Brother's Bridge.[1]
The 1950s-60s saw another boom in El Condado, with the rapid industrialization of Puerto Rico, El Condado was becoming a popular tourist destination. Large hotels, mainly sponsored by the government as part of Operation Bootstrap where built. These included the Caribe Hilton, and La Concha hotels. A convention center was built which hosted many activities. Many Puerto Rican families started to move into the area and high-rise apartment buildings began to be built.
El Condado today
El Condado looks quite different from what it did at the turn of the century. Some of the luxurious homes which still remain nestled between the high-rise condominiums have been converted into small Inns, shops, museums or restaurants. Dr. Bailey Ashford's home has been remodeled and there are plans in turning it into a museum.
International celebrities are often sighted in the area, as well as well-known Puerto Ricans who have called El Condado home - José Miguel Agrelot, and Lourdes Chacon (sister of the also famous dancer Iris Chacon) are among them. Marvin Hagler was sighted vacationing there in 1983 after his fight against Roberto Duran. Today it is also common to see couples taking strolls down "El Paseo de Don Juan", a sea side road to enjoy the sunset and children playing in some of the many parks in the area.
El Condado has also been the scene of tragedies such as the Karl Wallenda televised tight rope fall in 1978, and the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire which killed 97 people on December 31, 1986.
El Condado's success as a popular residential and tourist spot is taking a toll in the infrastructure and residents. While properties in El Condado tend to be expensive, it is also often traffic congested and residents have to contend with high noise levels even at late hours due to the nightclubs and other attractions. Plans are currently underway to attempt to alleviate the traffic congestion with the improvement of bridges, provide more pedestrianized social spaces, a new park, “La Gran Ventana al Mar” or Grand Window to the Sea where the old convention center used to be, (A newer bigger convention center with better access has been built just outside of the district) and other projects such as the “Condado Beach Trio” which aims to restore historic hotels, among these the Condado Beach (also known as The Vanderbilt) and La Concha hotel.
References
1. Cangrejos - Santurce - Authors; Aníbal Sepúlveda, Jorge Carbonell, Centro de Investigaciones CARIMAR, Oficina Estatal de Preservación Histórica. (Spanish)
See also
★ Tourism in Puerto Rico
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