During the 1970's-1980's was a dreadful period aesthetically here as in many parts of the world. That's when the ugliest, large, rectangular, multi-story apartment blocks appeared that today resemble mass housing projects everywhere else. Thankfully there's not that many areas blighted by those, though you will see them on the drive in from the international airport from the single highway route. Typical that the initial impression for visitors arriving by air is light-industrial areas & the least appealing buildings!
It was in the same decades that much of the 'downtown' CBD area was developed, when the p.h. houses were demolished to make way for skyscrapers full of fluorescent lit offices. This is the part of the city that we use as locations to double visually for many North American & some Continental cities.
Immediately following the financial crisis, savvy developers moved swiftly to snatch up bargain-priced land throughout the city, demolishing many p.h. houses & replacing them with 'sliver-apartment blocks' as they're known locally. Between 6-10 floors high, depending on the building zone of the particular barrio, they have been constructed on the same footprint as those single-story homes of yesteryear. This dictates that the common layout is for 2 narrow apartments per floor, 1 facing the street, the other overlooking surrounding rooftops. The occasional single-story penthouse apartment is usually the only possibility for more than 1 bedroom. Whilst a growing % of these modern, luxury apartments are inhabited by owner-occupants it is far & away the majority scenario that these are 'investment properties', rented to foreigners like us as short-term alternatives to hotel accommodation.
In the areas where the property development has been concentrated there's been an accompanying explosion of bars, cafes, restaurants & boutiques. These are big pedestrian areas so you'll get to walk off your beef, don't worry. These barrios naturally attract the expat crowd therefore you'll find an abundance of languages spoken, commonly including english.
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