La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Difference between revisions
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[[File:LaPerla SanJuan PuertoRico.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Aerial view to La Perla pushed outside of the historical San Juan walls]] |
[[File:LaPerla SanJuan PuertoRico.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Aerial view to La Perla pushed outside of the historical San Juan walls]] |
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[[File:Laperla2.jpg|right|thumb|300px|La Perla seen from [[Fort San Cristóbal|Castillo de San Cristobal]]. The street on the left is Calle Norzagaray]] |
[[File:Laperla2.jpg|right|thumb|300px|La Perla seen from [[Fort San Cristóbal|Castillo de San Cristobal]]. The street on the left is Calle Norzagaray]] |
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'''La Perla''' is a slum |
'''La Perla''' is a slum astride of the northern historic city wall of [[Old San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]], stretching about 650 yards (600 m) along the rocky [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast immediately east of the [[Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery]] and down the slope from (north of) Calle Norzagaray. |
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La Perla was established in the late 19th century. Initially, the area was the site of a [[slaughterhouse]] because the law required them and homes of former slaves and homeless non-white servants – as well as [[cemetery|cemeteries]] – to be established away from the main community center; in this case, outside the city walls. Sometime after, some of the farmers and workers started living around the slaughterhouse and shortly established their houses there. |
La Perla was established in the late 19th century. Initially, the area was the site of a [[slaughterhouse]] because the law required them and homes of former slaves and homeless non-white servants – as well as [[cemetery|cemeteries]] – to be established away from the main community center; in this case, outside the city walls. Sometime after, some of the farmers and workers started living around the slaughterhouse and shortly established their houses there. |
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Revision as of 06:40, 12 January 2012
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La Perla is a slum astride of the northern historic city wall of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, stretching about 650 yards (600 m) along the rocky Atlantic coast immediately east of the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery and down the slope from (north of) Calle Norzagaray.
La Perla was established in the late 19th century. Initially, the area was the site of a slaughterhouse because the law required them and homes of former slaves and homeless non-white servants – as well as cemeteries – to be established away from the main community center; in this case, outside the city walls. Sometime after, some of the farmers and workers started living around the slaughterhouse and shortly established their houses there.
In spite of its oceanfront location, La Perla has always been known for its high rate of illegal drug trafficking and crime. Local Salsa and Reggaeton concerts are held each week with the intention of shedding the bad image of the community.
Only three access points exist, one through the "Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery", one on the east side and one through a walkway right in the center of the northern wall.
In 1978, salsa singer Ismael Rivera had a hit song, written by composer Catalino Curet Alonso, in honor of this community, and named after it. In 2009, Reggaeton group Calle 13 released another tribute song, also named La Perla, in collaboration with Ruben Blades. In the song, Blades references Rivera's early effort; in the song's video, Blades pays his respects to Curet by visiting his tomb at the community's Santa María Madgalena de Pazzis cemetery.
Streets
The streets of La Perla are not indicated on most city maps:
- Calle Tiburcio Reyes (western border, along the outside of the old city wall)
- Calle San Miguel (mostly in the western part, along the north)
- Calle Bajada Matadero (mostly in the western part, along the south)
- Calle Lucila Silva (mostly in the western part, east-west through the middle, too narrow for cars)
- Calle Augustin O Aponte (eastern part)
Census
In terms of the United States 2000 Census, La Perla is composed of Census blocks 3001 through 3010 (Block group 3, Census tract 4, San Juan, Puerto Rico). A population of 338 was reported, 198 housing units (29 unoccupied), and 169 households, on an area of 80,028 square yards (16.53 acres; 66,914 m²).
La Perla belongs to and consists of the northernmost stretches of the sub-barrios Mercado (west) and San Cristóbal (east) of Old San Juan. The dividing line between the subbarrios is the imagined extension of Calle San Justo to the north beyond the old city wall to the Atlantic coast. The eastern part consists of Census blocks 3002, 3009 und 3010, with a population of 64, 35 housing units (4 unoccupied), and 31 households, on 41,348 square yards (8.5 acres; 34,572 m²).
