Origins
To understand what El Bronx Distrito Creativo is today, you have to go back several decades. The area that this project now occupies, located in downtown Bogotá, between Calle 10 and Avenida Caracas, was not always the epicenter of danger it once earned. In its origins, in the mid-20th century, this was a middle-class commercial and residential neighborhood, with warehouses, mechanical workshops, print shops, and workers' homes. It was a place of constant transit, as it connected the historic center with the west of the city.
However, something began to go wrong in the 1970s and 1980s. The economic crisis, forced displacement due to rural violence, and the city's unplanned growth pushed thousands of people to seek refuge in the center. Large houses became overcrowded tenements, and workshops gave way to clandestine warehouses. Little by little, the area people began to call "El Bronx" — a nickname that has nothing to do with the New York neighborhood, but rather with the harshness of its streets — gradually became a territory controlled by gangs dedicated to micro-trafficking, prostitution, and theft.
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By the 2000s, El Bronx was, without exaggeration, the most dangerous place in Colombia. It was not a residential or commercial neighborhood: it was an "ollón" — the term used for wholesale drug distribution zones — where bazuco, cocaine, and marijuana were sold at any hour. It is estimated that at its most critical point, between 2010 and 2016, some 4,000 people lived and worked on the streets of El Bronx, including users, homeless people, illegal merchants, and entire families displaced by the gangs.
Territorial control was absolute. There were collection "offices," hitmen watching every corner, and an informal surveillance system that made it nearly impossible for police to enter without massive operations. Stories of torture, disappearance, and human trafficking were everyday occurrences. El Bronx was not a minor problem: it was a symbol of the State's inability to control its own capital.
Timeline or historical milestones
To grasp the scale of the transformation, it is worth reviewing the key moments that led from total chaos to creative renaissance:
- 2003-2004: The first large-scale police operations in the area, known as "tomas," are carried out, but the gangs quickly reorganize. El Bronx remains a forbidden territory for citizens.
- 2010: Semana magazine publishes an investigation revealing the existence of mass graves and improvised crematoriums in the area. The national scandal becomes international.
- 2012: Then-Mayor Gustavo Petro announces a social intervention plan, but results are limited. The criminal structure remains intact.
- May 28, 2016: The National Police, with support from the Attorney General's Office, executes "Operation Diamond." More than 2,500 officers enter El Bronx without firing a single shot. Gang leaders are captured, and the area comes under state control. It is the definitive turning point.
- 2016-2019: The area remains in limbo. There is permanent police surveillance, but the properties remain abandoned. Urban renewal projects are discussed, but nothing concrete materializes.
- 2019: Mayor Enrique Peñalosa's administration launches the "Esmeralda" project for the revitalization of the center, but El Bronx is left out of immediate plans.
- 2021: Mayor Claudia López officially announces the El Bronx Distrito Creativo project, with an initial investment of over 200 billion Colombian pesos. Work begins on adapting the expropriated properties.
- 2023: The first phase of El Bronx Distrito Creativo is inaugurated, including the Manzana del Cuidado, the first stage of the Cinemateca, and renovated public spaces.
- 2024-2025: Most cultural facilities open to the public, including the new headquarters of the Cinemateca de Bogotá, the School of Arts, and the entrepreneurship center. The area begins to receive visitors from across the city.
- August 2026: El Bronx Distrito Creativo is today one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects in Latin America, with a cultural offering unmatched in downtown Bogotá.
Key figures or events
Behind the transformation of El Bronx are names worth knowing, both for their role in its fall and its renaissance:
The criminals who dominated El Bronx
Control of El Bronx for decades was in the hands of structures like the "Los Rastrojos" gang and, later, the organization "Los de La 30." But the name that resonated most was John Jairo Bonilla, alias "El Indio," a man who went from being a neighborhood thief to controlling all micro-trafficking in downtown Bogotá. His power was such that he is said to have run a network of over 300 people, including dealers, lookouts, and hitmen. He was captured in 2016 during Operation Diamond and is now serving time in a maximum-security prison.
Also worth mentioning is Wilson Rincón, alias "El Loco," a dealer who became infamous for his brutal collection methods. His story, told in dozens of chronicles, became a symbol of the impunity that reigned in the area.
The journalist who exposed the horror
Journalist Juan Pablo Barrientos, from Semana magazine, was the first to document the existence of crematoriums in El Bronx in 2010. His investigation, titled "El Bronx, el infierno en la tierra" (El Bronx, Hell on Earth), shook the country and forced the State to act. Barrientos received death threats and had to temporarily go into exile, but his work was key to making the problem visible.
The social leader who never left
While everyone talked about fleeing El Bronx, María Eugenia Bonilla (no relation to El Indio) decided to stay. This social worker founded the Fundación Samaritanos de la Calle, an organization that for years brought food, clothing, and medical care to the area's residents. Today, her foundation still operates in the new district, serving the population still living on the streets in the surrounding areas. Her story is a reminder that the renaissance of El Bronx cannot leave anyone behind.
The architects of the renaissance
The architectural project of El Bronx Distrito Creativo was led by the Taller de Diseño de la Universidad Nacional, in partnership with the firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the same firm that designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The central idea was not to erase the history of the place but to give it new meaning: the facades of some original warehouses were preserved, along with exposed brick walls and even the traces of graffiti that marked the dark era. It is an exercise in urban memory uncommon in Bogotá, where the historical trend has been to demolish and build from scratch.
Current status
Today, in August 2026, El Bronx Distrito Creativo is a place that has nothing to do with what it once was. If you visit the area, the first thing you will notice is the contrast: the streets that were once full of rubble and syringes are now pedestrianized, tree-lined, and filled with murals by local and international artists.
The heart of the project is the Manzana del Cuidado, a center offering free childcare services, laundry, showers, and psychological support for women caregivers. It is a social initiative that seeks to give people who have historically carried the burden of caring for others time for themselves.
Next door stands the new headquarters of the Cinemateca de Bogotá, which opened its doors in 2024. It features three movie theaters, an exhibition hall, and a terrace with views of downtown. Screenings have affordable prices: tickets range from $8,000 to $15,000 COP, and on Tuesdays there are free movie sessions for students.
There is also the Escuela de Artes del Bronx, offering workshops in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and audiovisual production. Courses are free for downtown residents and have limited spots. It is recommended to register at least a month in advance, as demand is extremely high.
The area also has several restaurants and cafés that have opened their doors. One of the most recommended is La Esquina del Bronx, a home-style cooking spot operating since 2023 offering dishes from $15,000 COP. There is also Café Renacer, an initiative by young graduates of the School of Arts, where Colombian origin coffee is served with live music on weekends. Prices range from $6,000 to $12,000 COP per cup.
On weekends, the Plaza Central del Distrito fills with entrepreneurship fairs. There you will find crafts, clothing by emerging designers, Colombian music vinyl records, and street food from all corners of the country. It is the perfect place to buy an authentic souvenir of Bogotá, far from the generic trinkets of La Candelaria.
The recommended visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Entry to the district is free, although some workshops and film screenings have a cost. It is recommended to check schedules before visiting, as some spaces close on Mondays.
A curious fact: the architects preserved one of the old drug consumption "ollas" as a memory space. In the Sala de la Memoria, located in the former house where the area's largest drug den operated, visitors can see photographs, testimonies, and objects recovered from the dark era. It is a moving but necessary space. Entry is free, but it is suggested to book in advance as capacity is limited.
Safety today is notably better, but not perfect. There is a permanent presence of the Tourism Police and the Citizen Guard, but the areas surrounding the district, especially toward Avenida Caracas and Calle 9, still have zones that can be risky after dark. The locals' advice is simple: stay within the district's perimeter and do not wander down dark streets. With that basic precaution, visiting is as safe as walking through Zona T.
For photography lovers, the district is a paradise. The murals by the La Libélula collective, which painted a series of works on the memory of El Bronx's victims, are among the most striking in the city. There is also an intervention by Bogotá artist Stinkfish, known for his colorful portraits, covering an entire facade on Calle 10.
The future
El Bronx Distrito Creativo is not finished. By 2027, the opening of the Gran Biblioteca Pública del Centro is expected, a six-story building that will hold more than 100,000 volumes and reading rooms open 24 hours. A Centro de Innovación Tecnológica is also under construction, which will house startups in the creative sector and offer free coworking spaces for local entrepreneurs.
The biggest challenge, however, is not architectural but social. Despite the progress, there are still homeless people in the areas surrounding the district who have not been assisted. Social organizations denounce that the State has prioritized infrastructure over comprehensive care for the people who lived in El Bronx for decades. The Fundación Samaritanos de la Calle continues to operate in the area, but its resources are limited and demand grows every day.
Another challenge is preventing gentrification. Rental prices in the surrounding blocks have risen more than 40% since 2023, and some historic small businesses have had to leave. The district administration says it is working on policies to protect local commerce, but results are still uncertain.
Despite the challenges, El Bronx Distrito Creativo is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting urban experiments in Colombia. It is proof that a place many had written off can be reborn, not by erasing its past, but by confronting and transforming it.
If you are in Bogotá and want to understand the city beyond traditional tourist spots, El Bronx Distrito Creativo is a must-see. It is not a perfect place, but it is a real place. And that, in a city full of contrasts, is worth its weight in gold.
The best way to explore it is on foot, with comfortable shoes and an open mind. Start at the Manzana del Cuidado, continue through the Plaza Central, and end at the Sala de la Memoria. You will leave with a different perspective on what a city can do when it decides to face its darkest chapters.
