We were at the end of the 50s of the last 20th century and Arrecife was beginning to grow demographically in an important way. In addition, many people then lived in houses, in the area of La Destila, La Puntilla or El Charco, in ...
We were at the end of the 50s of the last 20th century and Arrecife was beginning to grow demographically in an important way. In addition, many people then lived in houses, in the area of La Destila, La Puntilla or El Charco, in very precarious situations. Spain was already beginning with its development plans after the post-war period and could begin to undertake the construction of social housing, so necessary, throughout the Nation, and as already said in Arrecife, Lanzarte.
Then, from the Social Work of the Falange, the first large promotion of social housing is built in what was then the periphery of Arrecife. In the nooks and crannies of Maneje, the Tite Roy Gatra neighborhood is built (which by popular derivation became the Titerroy that today names the neighborhood), of 120 homes, which constitute the current streets Tilama, Tisalaya, which housed some of the first families that at the end of 1957 inhabited the embryo of this new capital neighborhood.
By the way, among them that of the then child Félix Hormiga, one of the best pens of current Lanzarote. Then Tinache Street, where Antonio Corujo lived, among others, an indisputable bastion of the island's folklore, father, by the way, of Toñín Corujo, one of the best musicians on our island. Next, Timbayba Street and, finally, Tinamala, in which one of the houses was occupied by the family of Marcial Hernández, by the way father of Ángela Hernández, current Councilor for Tourism of Arrecife and of, among others, Emeterio Hernández, football coach, currently coaching Teguise in the youth division of honor.
Barely a year later, the 160 houses of the second neighborhood are delivered, also promoted by La Falange. Five streets, eight blocks of 20 houses. Starting with Parque Los Pinos, the first street bears the name of the one who was king of the majos when the conquest, Guadarfía, who later converted to Christianity abusing himself as "Luis de Guadarfía". The following bears the name of the first bishop of Rubicón, "Fray Mendo de Viedma", in which Pedro Viera, current councilor in Arrecife, grew up. At the end of that street, the young film director Roberto Pérez Toledo also grew up, who precisely last Friday premiered his first feature film "Six points about Emma". It is followed by the one that bears the name of the first parish priest of San Ginés, "Francisco Acosta Espinosa", then "Antonio María Manrique", in which José Domingo Morera was born and raised, currently a councilor in Teguise, and the last, "Dr. Gregorio Marañón", in which, in three houses in a row, Francisco Cabrera, recently elected national deputy, Pedro San Ginés, current president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, and Maciot Débora, one of the best and most popular football players in the recent history of Lanzarote, grew up.
Then, I think that in 1961 the 100 houses of another new neighborhood are delivered, this one called "Santa Coloma", which for years gave its name to the entire neighborhood. This neighborhood is made up of the continuation of Timbayba Street, where the newly elected senator for Lanzarote, Óscar Luzardo, was born and raised; the continuation of Tinamala Street, the street that gives its name to the first mayor of Arrecife, "Alcalde Lorenzo Cabrera", in which Mundo de la Hoz lived until recently, for years president of the Torrelavega Society, and father of the regional deputy David de la Hoz who, for me, without a doubt, is the best handball player born in Lanzarote; and Carlos III Street, where Paca Toledo lived for many years, Councilor for Education and Sports of Arrecife and who was for many years Councilor of Tías, sister by the way of the very enthusiastic Lupe Toledo, now very active in Cáritas Parroquiales of the neighborhood.
This neighborhood, to the south, ends at Eugenio Rijo Rocha Street, which has become a very commercial street, as well as very busy by vehicles as it is a necessary step to leave Arrecife or go to Argana Alta. To the north, the neighborhood ends at José Pereyra Galviaty Street, also very commercial, where the famous actress Goya Toledo was born, who did her primary studies at the Benito Méndez Tarabajo school.
Another 180 homes were then built by the City Council, being mayor Don Ginés de la Hoz Gil. These are distributed in different areas of the neighborhood, to the point that they practically surround the three neighborhoods mentioned above. In the upper area, bordering Parque Los Pinos, a group of about 60 was built, some terraced and others duplex. Precisely, in one of them, on Paseo Martín Cobos, I have lived since 1968, right in front of Los Pinos. The rear is made up of José Pereyra streets, where precisely in one of those houses the Los Campesinos folklore group was created, by Juan Brito, and El Rafael, where Jesús Casanova lived for many years, one of the most famous and award-winning handball coaches in Lanzarote.
In the lower part of Los Pinos are the streets El Tres de Mayo, Eugenio Rijo Rocha, where, on the corner, was the neighborhood pharmacy, which by the way, next to it David Rodríguez was born and raised, young councilor of the Arrecife City Council. Followed is Juan XXIII Street, where Toña Martín Zerpa came from the north, who left us two years ago and who was always an enthusiastic and passionate defender of the neighborhood, for many years president of the Titerroy Neighborhood Association, working together with the equally tireless Francisco Cabrera. In this same street lived until recently the popular Mamelo Marrero, father of Cristina Marrero, who is now a councilor of Arrecife. Completing this neighborhood are the streets Lope de Vega, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Luis de Guadarfía and Hermanos Álvarez Quintero, which borders the self-construction area known as Los Cuarteles.
Another group of houses in this new promotion built by the City Council is the area integrated between El Isleño streets, where the residential area of Titerroy ends, and Gregorio Marañón Street, which borders one of the two primitive neighborhoods. In the middle, Carlos III streets, Alcalde Lorenzo Cabrera and Dr. Severo Ochoa, where Don Antonio Becerra lived recently delivered, promoter and owner of the popular "Almacenes El Barato", father of Juan Carlos Becerra, who was president of the Cabildo and Councilor of the Government of the Canary Islands. Its transversals, La Santa María, La Pinta and La Niña streets, where the popular Román Cabrera lived for many years, for many years in charge of the Lanzarote Sports City, and his wife Lolina Curbelo, precursor of the current gymnastics of Lanzarote, and for many years councilor of the Arrecife City Council. By the way, parents of the one who was also councilor of Arrecife, Nuria Cabrera.
Later, in 1967 the 100 houses of the Juan Salazar Ortíz neighborhood are delivered. Francisco Cabrera, the hairdresser, came to live there from Mozaga, when he got married, who throughout his life was a great worker for Titerroy and who left us two years ago. Matías Umpíerrez and Pilar García also came to another of those houses, parents of Orlando Umpíerrez García, councilor of the Arrecife City Council.
But, meanwhile, both in the upper part, what we call "Geranios de Titerroy" or "Morro Angelito", as in the lower part, known as Los Cuarteles, self-construction neighborhoods were generated. In the upper part, El Rafael street, which borders the social protection houses, where Agustín de León "El Pala" built his house, father of the popular news presenter of the Canarian Television, Yara de León, who was born and raised there. Behind, Ciudad Real streets, Luis Braile. Crossing José Pereyra, El Rafael continues and they continue parallel, Pamplona, where Julián de León built his house, for many years gardener of Titerroy, father of Juan de León, recently elected president of the Lanzarote Confederation of Entrepreneurs. They are followed by El Vicente streets, Navarra, Tilama. Its transversals, La Fermina and La Joaquina.
In the area known as "Morro Angelito", which is separated from the social housing neighborhoods by José Pereyra Galviaty street, in which Erasmo de León lived and grew up, recently appointed director of the Lanzarote Health Area, another self-construction neighborhood was formed, in what are today Cuenca, La Cristina, El Antonio, Andalucía streets, and the extensions of La Cristina and La Fermina streets.
And, thus, during the last 50 years, one of the most populous and active neighborhoods of Arrecife has been built, which currently has a population of about 7,000 residents, where, as you have been able to read, many people who have had an important role in the reality of our island of Lanzarote have lived, been born and raised.
