Puerto Rican Presence in Columbia Street: Community Park turned Shantytown

The story of the last efforts of the pioneros of the community in trying to preserve their way of life against the rapid urban development that erased their history.

"In a neighborhood where the Puerto Rican presence is all but completely forgotten, this paper tells the story of the last efforts of the pioneros of the community in trying to preserve their way of life against the rapid urban development that erased their history.
It is the story of the Puerto Rican Village Park/Plaza that occupied the empty lots on east Columbia Street in front of Irving Street and later became, and is now solely remembered as, The Shantytown.
But first, to better understand the reasons and ultimately the significance of the Puerto Rican Village, it is necessary to know the context of its history, starting in 1917…"

Stephanie D. Ortiz's intro to her paper: Puerto Rican Presence in Columbia Street: Community Park turned Shantytown