Paseo Atocha

Ponce’s Paseo Atocha before shops have opened for the day (May 2008)

Paseo Atocha is a pedestrian mall in the Ponce Historic Zone, a historic district in Ponce, Puerto Rico. For over a century Paseo Atocha was a commercial street opened to motor vehicle traffic.^[1] The street, which is now pedestrian-only, stretches over four blocks from Isabel Street to Vives Street. Both an active and a peaceful promenade, it is visited annually by thousands of people and is considered one of the city’s main places of interest.^[2]

History

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Atocha Street was the main commercial artery in Ponce.^[3] Despite modifications undergone by many of the buildings throughout the years along this stretch of Atocha Street, a number of buildings continue to preserve the designs characteristics of Ponce’s traditional architecture. Whilst other unrenovated buildings are beginning to take on a traditional character of bygone years.

In 1991, as part of the Ponce en Marcha (Ponce On the Move) plan, the government of the Municipality of Ponce closed the street to vehicular traffic and converted into a promenade.^[4]

Uses

During the day, and especially on Saturdays, the street gets crowded with shoppers, both from Ponce as well as from surrounding towns. In the evenings and on Sundays the street becomes as peaceful and relaxing place. There are some benches along the mall, and it is a good place to stop, take a rest, and do some people watching.^[5] Sunday nights, Atocha turns into a calm place, and sometimes serves as a gathering place for cultural activities.^[6]

Shopping experience

The Promenade is a lively place, and shoppers can find almost anything they need here. There are many clothing, jewelry, electronics, souvenir, etc., stores and restaurants. Many merchants have booths or racks along the Paseo. Most of the stores have discounted merchandise.^[7] Police are stationed at every block along the Paseo, making the promenade quite safe.^[8]

Paseo Atocha also includes he privately-owned Casa Vives, the only historic structure listed in the United States' Park Service National Register of Historic Places Program.^[9]

Future plans

In an attempt to make the downtown area more friendly to tourists and businesses, the City planned to install a reinforced crystal ceiling and air-conditioning system over the Paseo. Construction was planned to begin in 2009.^[10] The idea was something the city had been toying around with for the last two decades. It is expected to cost $5 million USD.^[11] The glass ceiling is expected to make Ponce’s Historic District more attractive to vacationers and locals alike. At the same time, officials hope that it will draw new people to the area, allowing businesses to extend their hours of operation, and thereby boosting the downtown economy and stimulating nightlife.^[12]

References

See also

Coordinates: 18°0′46.91″N 66°36′48.92″W / 18.0130306°N 66.6135889°W / 18.0130306; -66.6135889