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Barrio Libre, December 21

The Barrio Libre section of Tucson has generally always been the Mexican neighbourhood -- after Arizona achieved statehood, many of the Mexican families moved to this part of town in order to maintain their way of life.

The buildings are gorgeous, typical Sonoran-style architecture -- adobe and stucco boxes with fabulous entryways right on the street and courtyards.

A good many of the homes were demolished to make way for the Tucson Convention Center and since then a good many more of them have been purchased by lawyers and architects and yuppies. Reaction to this is mixed: longtime residents appreciate that neglected homes are being repaired, but fear their own taxes will rise or that rents will cease to be affordable.

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