20th century Condado began its process of urbanization in 1908 by two American industrialists,
Hernan and
Sosthenes, also known as the Behn Brothers. The quarter became a typical
streetcar suburb to the traditional urban center of Old San Juan. Its growth and development was mostly shaped by a
transportation influenced suburbanization developed on a
grid plan.
electric tramway, 1932 The neighborhood experienced an
economic boom in the first decades of the 20th century when some of the wealthiest families built their homes in the area. The
Vanderbilts built a summer home in 1919 which today has been converted into the luxurious
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. The Behn Brothers also built their home in Condado and to their memory,
Puente Dos Hermanos (or "Two Brothers Bridge" in English) is named in their honor as founders of
Puerto Rico Telephone and the new electric
tramway line that linked
the county to Old San Juan. with Condado Vanderbilt (foreground) and
Caribe Hilton (background) Hotels visible, c. 1950 The 1950s-60s era saw another boom in Condado, with the rapid industrialization of
Puerto Rico, this flamboyant locale was becoming a popular tourist destination. Large hotels like the
Caribe Hilton Hotel and
La Concha Resort were built as part of a government sponsorship program under the
Operation Bootstrap brand. A convention center was built to host activities while many families began to move in during the development of high-end and high-rise apartment buildings. In fact, Ashford Avenue was named after another well-known
Condado resident Dr.
Bailey Ashford. It runs through the subbarrio and leads toward the Puente Dos Hermanos.
21st century Condado looks quite different from what it did at the turn of the century. Some of the luxurious homes which still remain nestled between the high-rise condominiums have been converted into small inns, shops, museums or restaurants. Dr.
Bailey Ashford's home has been remodeled and there are plans to turn it into a museum. Condado's main public space is
La Ventana al Mar, designed by architect and urbanist
Andrés Mignucci. The park is flanked by two of Condado's landmark hotels: to the west by the
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (1919), designed by Warren and Whitmore, and to the east by the
La Concha Hotel (1957), designed by
Toro Ferrer. One of the first schools constructed by the United States is in Condado. Designed by
Antonin Nechodoma, it was designated as a historic site in November 2020 by the
Puerto Rico Planning Board.In recent years, the Condado district has become associated with wealth and status. Properties are scarce, hard to come by and extremely expensive. It is sometimes called the “Manhattan of Puerto Rico” and properties tend to hover in the millions of dollars. It is one of the most desirable places to live on the island and as such commands a premium. ==Demographics==