Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hato Rey is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the northwest of the former municipio of Río Piedras, and southwest of Santurce. Hato Rey was a barrio of Río Piedras. Currently, it stretches over three barrios of San Juan:

Hato Rey Central (with the Milla de Oro)
Hato Rey Norte
Hato Rey Sur

Because of its location, many Puerto Ricans travelling to Old San Juan must drive through Hato Rey.

Hato Rey is a startling contrast between the barrio of the very poor and La Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), a stretch that effectively covers only one mile but that is home to the headquarters of many large banks and is one of the most important centers of Puerto Rico's economy. Many housing projects (caseríos) in Hato Rey have faced illegal drug trade for years, some of which have gangs that have engaged in drug wars with rival gangs from Santurce, Isla Verde and Carolina.

Important buildings in Hato Rey include the Banco Popular headquarters, Plaza Las Americas, the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, the Centro Medico hospital and Puerto Rico's supreme court building. Puerto Rico's FBI headquarters are also located in Hato Rey. Because of the area's closeness to the airport, major airlines, such as Avianca and Iberia, have had their offices in Hato Rey.

Hato Rey is also home to a series of boutiques and restaurants (mostly among Roosevelt avenue). The José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and the Tren Urbano (Urban Train) are reshaping Hato Rey and bringing people into the area after hours. The train is also helping to ease traffic woes in the area by decongesting the roads.