The Transformation of a Capital Neighborhood: The Experience from the Residents of Barrio Escalante together with the Gastronomic Commerce

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to narrate the experience of the residents of barrio Escalante, located in district El Carmen in the capital San José of Costa Rica. This settlement dates
from the first half of the 20th century and in the last decade it goes through a series of urban transformations mainly: the changes in land use; the profile of the city and the vocation to
commercial and tourist activities. This article shows the results of a survey applied to residents during the last semester of 2018 as well as in-depth interviews. As important results are: the difficulties to reside in the neighborhood; the lack of citizen participation and political decisions
about the city without consulting those who inhabit it.