La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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 - as well as cemeteries - to be established away from the main community center; in this case, outside the city walls. Some time after, some farmers and workers started living around the slaughterhouse and shortly established their houses there.

In spite of it's amazing oceanfront location (where in most cities such properties would be home to the wealthiest individuals), in recent years La Perla has become more known because of the high rate of illegal drug trafficking and crime. During the night, many teenagers and adults enter La Perla to buy illegal drugs. Despite this, local Salsa and Reggaeton concerts are being held each week with the intention of shedding the bad image of the community. All tourists are advised to stay away from La Perla, especially at night. Only three access points exist, one through the "Santa Maria Magdalena Cementry", one on the east side and one through a walkway right in the center of the northern wall. Wandering into La Perla can be extremely dangerous for tourists, since they are literally being watched from the second they walk in by residents and local visitors alike.

treets

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 66,914 m² (16.5 acres).

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 34,572 m² (8.5 acres).

ee also

* Old San Juan