I dare you or anyone to find a street in downtown Panama city with at least one properties under construction, recently finished construction, or has plans to knock down a couple of buildings to start all over again.

It has to be a huge gamble to destroy arquitecture which is maybe not as modern or the very best design for an area, but still helped make certain areas like Cangrejo, Obarrio, Bellavista and Campo Alegre what they are today.

The general soul and essence of streets like Via Argentina became such an alternative place to live, due to its proximity to the National University campus and in walking distance to theaters, reastaurants, cafes and boutique stores. Residents and visitors to this El Cangrejo sector tend to be young...and I don't mean age, cool...and I don't mean temperature and active.

My experience has been that most foreiners are attracted to this area, looking the live in a Panama enviroment among its classic arquitecture and not predesigned brand new skyscrapers.

They way things are going, the price of an average apartmet in one of these new buildings, only a foreing business person will be able to a afford. The issue is that this person will travel so much to be able to pay for this and other condos. So you'll get some thing like my apartment building, ghost neighbors, and quorum-less apartment board meetings. I must not complain that much about that, since my personal benefit is been able to have noisy midnight party and no complaints.

I absolutely adore Casco Viejo, Panama. 

This is what my friends agree, happened in Casco Viejo, an area that a actually love. Classic colonial arquitecture designed by the French, and today a belongs to the World Heritage, there are so many associated perks for buying in this area, that many did so, as a second or vacation home. It worked out great in a esthetic sense, because each owner or developer was strictly obligated to renovate each edifice while maintaining the historical ambient of the old Quoters of Panama. Most did that and much more. Walking through these brick streets you get a sense of history and tradition, and romantic view from the flowered stone balcony complement each detail sculptured corner. Yet the area is empty of residents, you'll see some visitor, a few slow going restaurants, squatters, locals, lots of tourism police. But who really lives in the properties, no one. At least not during the winter.