Polanco (Mexico)
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- This article is about a neighborhood of Mexico City, for other uses read Polanco (disambiguation).
Polanco is the name that usually refers to a group of seven official neighborhoods ("colonias") in Mexico City, located north of Chapultepec Park. The official names of the neighborhoods are: Los Morales (which is divided in three sections), Del Bosque, Polanco Reforma, Polanco Chapultepec, Chapultepec Morales, Bosque de Chapultepec and Residencial del Bosque. Its borders are: to the north Avenida Ejercito Nacional, to the east Calzada General Mariano Escobedo, to the south Paseo de la Reforma and to the west Boulevard Manuel Avila Camacho (Periferico).
Most of Its streets are named after an eclectic mix of universal philosophers, writers, scientists and even a Czech president.
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[edit] History
Polanco was developed in 1937 by the Aleman family, the same developers of Ciudad Satélite and San José Insurgentes districts, in the land that was originally the Hacieda de los Morales, just north of Molino del Rey town and Bosque de Chapultepec. The first area to be built was the one that is now called Polanco Reforma and lies just north of Paseo de la Reforma, the entrance to the new neighborhood was signed by a tile obelisc facing Reforma. In those days, there were only mansions surrounded by gardens and tree lined streets. By the 60's the first department store arrived to the neighborhood, transforming forever the face of Polanco. In the 70's was sold the last piece of land to be developed, the triangle of Ejército Nacional, Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca and Periférico, over there were no houses done, only apartment buildings. The 1985 earthquake changed forever the city layout, and Polanco was no exception; the restaurants, embassies, boutiques and corporate business slowly moved from Zona Rosa and found in Polanco a great home. Suddenly the big houses were torn down and new buildings were made instead of them and inhabitants decided to move too, some of them to newest Bosques de las Lomas others to Tecamachalco. And only then,Horacio, Homero or Arquimedes became names familiar to Mexicans. Nowadays Polanco is facing a challenge, land price is one of the most expensive in the city, city rules forbid skyscrapers in the area, there are few big mansions remaining and are protected by INBA, so there can not be done big buildings like the ones in Lomas de Chapultepec or Santa Fe and Condesa is taking advantage in the race in attracting new inhabitants.
[edit] Architecture
Polanco enjoyed a construction boom in the 1950s when mansions and luxury apartment complexes were built. The style of construction of most mansions of this date is "Colonial Californiano", inspired by the Mission Revival Style in the Southwestern United States, with pseudo-baroque quarry windows, front-side gardens and inside halls. Some of these mansions have been renovated and converted into businesses and restaurants, many others have simply been torn down and its place has been taken by newer buildings.
[edit] Inhabitants
Polanco is notable because of its cultural diversity. This neighborhood has historically been preferred by the descendants of Jewish, Lebanese, Germans and Spanish immigrants. It is also notable because it is an expensive neighborhood that makes it affordable almost only for the wealthier inhabitants with some exceptions, which is the reason why the neighborhood is full of expensive offices, restaurants and shops.
[edit] Today
Polanco is nowadays to the city what Zona Rosa was in the 1960's. It is one of the most active areas with upscale hotels, restaurants and shopping malls as well as embassies, art galleries and government offices. It is home of UN and Coca Cola chapter Mexico. There are several residential developments currently underway in the area, in hopes that this will encourage an influx of new inhabitants.
[edit] President Masaryk Avenue
The most-valued street in Latin America. It is the street with most boutiques in Mexico City. It is compared by some to LA's Rodeo Drive or New York City's 5th Avenue. The Avenue is called after the first President of Czechoslovakia Tomáš Masaryk.
