Nestled between affluent and working-class districts, Loiza Street is an ideal middle ground for residents of adjacent neighborhoods to gather and socialize. In particular, the Loiza Street Festival, with its live entertainment, workshops and local cuisine, has proven to be an effective way of bringing together a mix of young and old residents to the street. The wide range of amenities and shops offered on Loiza Street, including pawn shops, bars, and salons, also cater to the large spectrum of locals living in the area, resulting in an active street life all year round. With the recent reinvestment on Loiza Street, the thoroughfare has also become a much safer environment for pedestrians late into the night and the availability of public transit stops and connected network of sidewalks make it highly accessible for many living in and around Condado and Isla Verde.

Located in the neighborhood of Santurce in Puerto Rico’s capital city, Loiza Street is at the epicenter of a major economic revival. Stretching for about 1.5 miles between the tourist hubs of Condado and Isla Verde, the street fell into disrepair in the 1990s following the rise of highways and automobile ownership. Today, the street is beginning to attract new investments leading to an interesting blend of local designer boutiques, ethnic restaurants and street vendors, while still retaining just enough grit in its physical environment. Loiza Street functions mainly as the commercial corridor of the neighborhood and as a social platform for Dominican immigrants and local youth.

Image credits, from left: Angel Xavier Viera-Vargas via Flickr, Manuel Morales via Flickr, Angel Xavier Viera-Vargas via Flickr

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