. >> they are relocated to mass housing developments like alamar, where no trace of havana's charm is found. chef jorge amentero lived in the old town for more than thirty years. now he has to adjust to living in the new development. >> the move was very fast and well-organized, but as you can imagine, i miss my old home, after living there for so long. >> the long years of stagnation did have some unexpected benefits. the magnificent colonial buildings were saved from the wrecking ball that destroyed a lot of history in other formerly socialist countries. at the current pace, it'll be some time before josÉ oviedo's house comes up for renovation. he makes his living pedaling a bicycle taxi -- often past the bright and shiny facades of buildings already done. >> it does hurt when i see that, and i have to wonder -- why was this building picked for renovation, while nothing, at all, is happening with ours? >> what jose needs isn't an architectural facelift, but a new home for his family. and the place to find one is in havana's new real estate market, where the deals seem to grow on tre