Erasing roots: The impact of urban development on historical memory and identity in San Juan

Maria Helena Luengo-Duque; Maria Helena Luengo-Duque

doi:10.3934/urs.2025002

Urban Resilience and Sustainability

2025, Volume 3, Issue 1: 26-56. doi: 10.3934/urs.2025002

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Theory article

Erasing roots: The impact of urban development on historical memory and identity in San Juan

Maria Helena Luengo-Duque ^,

Department of Design, University of Puerto Rico, CX33+8P9, Av. Universidad, San Juan, 00925, Puerto Rico

Received: 23 October 2024 Revised: 24 January 2025 Accepted: 10 February 2025 Published: 24 February 2025

The rapid urban development in San Juan, Puerto Rico, initiated by Operation Bootstrap in the late 1940s, has profoundly impacted the historical memory and identity of its inhabitants. This study examines the socioeconomic and cultural effects of transforming the El Fanguito and Tokio slums into the financial hub of Hato Rey. Through a combination of existing interviews and new testimonies, the research explores how the displacement of long-standing communities disrupted residents' sense of belonging and continuity. The findings reveal patterns of exploitation, cultural imperialism, and persistent neglect by the authorities. Despite the challenges, the current residents of Caño Martín Peña have maintained resilience and a collective identity, advocating for their rights and working towards a better future. This study underscores the need for urban planning that balances economic growth with heritage preservation, ensuring that development policies do not erase the cultural and social fabric of the communities.
- urban development,
- cultural displacement,
- historical memory,
- community identity,
- heritage preservation
Citation: Maria Helena Luengo-Duque. Erasing roots: The impact of urban development on historical memory and identity in San Juan[J]. Urban Resilience and Sustainability, 2025, 3(1): 26-56. doi: 10.3934/urs.2025002

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Abstract

The rapid urban development in San Juan, Puerto Rico, initiated by Operation Bootstrap in the late 1940s, has profoundly impacted the historical memory and identity of its inhabitants. This study examines the socioeconomic and cultural effects of transforming the El Fanguito and Tokio slums into the financial hub of Hato Rey. Through a combination of existing interviews and new testimonies, the research explores how the displacement of long-standing communities disrupted residents' sense of belonging and continuity. The findings reveal patterns of exploitation, cultural imperialism, and persistent neglect by the authorities. Despite the challenges, the current residents of Caño Martín Peña have maintained resilience and a collective identity, advocating for their rights and working towards a better future. This study underscores the need for urban planning that balances economic growth with heritage preservation, ensuring that development policies do not erase the cultural and social fabric of the communities.

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