Neighborhoods:

• The Northern part of the city was conformed by five lower-income sectors: El Polvorín, San Lázaro, San Miguel, San Antón, and Santa Bárbara. Marginality, disorganized settlements, incoherence and "spontaneity" of urban development and layout characterized this zone. Imbalance, a lack of clear features, and socially and architecturally degraded features reigned in this area.

• The South Zone was made up of three sectors: the Center, which (in principle) housed the wealthiest families and main shopping centers, and two other less well-to-do sectors. This zone was regularly surveyed and was therefore more spatially coherent than the North of the city. Santo Domingo's best and longest lasting buildings were found in the South Zone. However, it must be emphasized that during the Third Period a certain "leveling" of the social classes was initiated in this area, as the wealthiest families preferred to move to the new Western sectors outside the city walls, and the two other neighborhoods experienced a degree of socioeconomic progress.

• Properties in the newer sectors outside the city walls increased significantly in value and urbanized rapidly. Nevertheless, this urbanization developed in a capricious and private manner according to the individual interests of each landowner and, with exception of Ciudad Nueva, without any prior planning. These sectors were like islands, dissociated from one another and reflecting complete diversity in architectural style and influences. An example is Gazcue, which became the city's most elite neighborhood, harboring the wealthy families that once lived inside the city walls. A series of residential areas began to develop, outlined by the Camino de Güibia Street (known today as Independencia Avenue), Camino de la M Street (known today as Enrique Henríquez), Camino de Santa Ana Street (known today as Bolívar Avenue), and around the Mansión Presidencial (known today as the Palacio Nacional). These sectors had irregular blocks and varied streets (short, long, curved, and dead end) without continuity. These streets could primarily accommodate only pedestrian traffic. Residences were villa or "village" style, with extensive and beautiful gated gardens surrounding homes placed in the center of the lots.

• Villa Francisca. Almost as poor as the Northern neighborhoods adjacent to it. It was founded in 1909 following plan intended to maximize land use. By 1917 it was home to some 500 families and had 3 primary schools, 3 meat markets, 2 dairies, 30 fruit and vegetable stands, 2 carpentry shops, 2 tailors, 2 shoemakers, 2 mechanic shops, 5 wagon garages and 7 public wells. The plan of its vertical streets was conceived as extension of the streets within the city. For example, upon arrival at Villa Francisca, 19 de Marzo Street became Jacinto de la Concha. Villa Francisca's main street was called Duarte Alta (known today as Duarte Avenue) was an extension of the city street Duarte. Horizontal (East-West) streets were connected to the intricate extensions of San Carlos. Houses were made of wood and usually had a space of two meters between them, which was intended to protect against fires and serve as a space for small vegetable gardens. However, due to the poverty of the sector, these spaces would quickly degenerate into areas for the storage of boxes, tin sheeting, cardboard, and zinc.

• Ciudad Nueva or "New City" was the first neighborhood to be officially established outside the walls of Santo Domingo. It had a checkerboard city plan which was altered only by the irregular configuration of the Municipal Cemetery or Cementerio Municipal. Ciudad Nueva extended to the zone known as La Sabana del Estado or del Rey. Plans for this expansion had been drawn up in 1884.

• San Carlos was considered a neighborhood of the city in 1911. Built on land of devious and abrupt topography, the streets of this area were irregular and labyrinthine.

• Sectors of La Primavera and Ensanche Lugo. These were established on the outskirts of the Presidential Mansion and housed wealthy families.