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Outside of some areas of the capital, such as Old San Juan, Condado, and Hatore, there are few places in Puerto Rico that are walkable, either for recreation or to access services, whether on foot or by bike, according to Notícias Several architects consulted said there would be multiple benefits if developed on the island.
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“There are many factors that make a city walkable. One of them is the typical urban need for short distances, and these short distances are usually measured in 15 minutes. Therefore, the most common places are exactly Old San Juan. Theaters, supermarkets, plazas , cultural activities, monuments, tourist attractions, food, pharmacies and other facilities are all within about 15 minutes, which is equivalent to half a drive of one mile in diameter,” architect Fernando Abruna said in an interview with this media.
He also explained that in Puerto Rico, the development of urban centers was planned according to this vision, but admitted that due to urban expansion many urban centers today have lost their original essence and some are even abandoned.
“One factor that affects different urban centers is that large shopping malls are sometimes built to move commercial activities from the square to a location where one can access all other locations. “Some places, maybe the person does not need To go that far. But, there is a discussion on this issue because sometimes the desire to promote economic development can be a self-inflicted harm,” he said after understanding. Eventually affecting other businesses.
He explained that one of the advantages of such a development is that it strengthens the local economy, with a focus on self-sufficiency and local business.
According to a study by Smart Growth America, by 2023, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita will be 36% higher in U.S. cities with walkable environments than in cities without them. This is because the area manages to attract more educated people, thus promoting greater social equity.
The report found that 19.1% of the U.S.’s real GDP and 6.8% of its population live in walkable urban areas, while these areas account for only 1.2% of the total land area of the top 35 U.S. metropolitan areas.
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What’s stopping us?
This lower share in the U.S. is consistent with restrictions on building walkable urban density and mixed-use development on 98.8 percent of the U.S. land, which is car-dependent due to restrictive zoning policies in most metropolitan areas, the study shows.
In Puerto Rico, such development is also subject to joint regulations regarding the evaluation and issuance of permits related to development, land use, and business operations.
Alexandra Betancourt, president of the College of Architects and Landscape Designers of Puerto Rico (CAAPPR), believes the island’s high reliance on cars is one of the main problems.
“If you take into account the cost of owning a car, this is a big problem; not only for people, but also for the environment. It used to be one car per household, but now every family member has his or her own car. If It would be great if car use could be reduced, if cities developed into 15-minute distances where people could cycle and walk,” she said.
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation determined that there were approximately 2.1 million drivers in Puerto Rico, with an average of 1.33 vehicles per person.
The architects emphasize that current lifestyles are dictated by urban sprawl, where housing developments and neighborhoods are located away from commercial areas.
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“One thing that separates each other is the fact that the more mixed uses you have, the better the quality, not just of you as a person but the quality of the community. It’s also safer because a city is active 24 hours a day. In cities where everyone is constantly monitoring space, it becomes more difficult to commit crimes,” Bettencourt explained.
“One thing that separates each other is the fact that the more mixed uses you have, the better the quality, not just of you as a person but the quality of the community. It’s also safer because a city is active 24 hours a day. In cities where everyone is constantly monitoring space, it becomes more difficult to commit crimes,” Bettencourt explained.
Architect Victor Nieto, president of the Foundation for Architecture (FXA), said such developments would also help repopulate the area.
“But, to do that, these spaces have to be attractive so that people want to move in. We have to improve the infrastructure of sidewalks, parks, and spaces that maybe a lot of times don’t get a lot of attention, but that’s what makes a space attractive area,” said the foundation president.
In his opinion, the island has great potential, but there is an urgent need to take into account the persistent high temperatures, explaining that the generally shaded streets are the most successful of the concept, as it encourages citizens to walk along them.
“I believe that opportunities come when we see spaces where people are already used to walking and we can take advantage of that. In those spaces where we already see potential, they continue to be activated by different businesses, housing, in order to People can use the city using existing urban infrastructure,” Nieto stressed.
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