gloria condÉ is one of the lucky residents.orks in the urban renewal authority's offices -- which might've helped. what to do with residents of buildings slated for renovation is a tricky question. the state tries to avoid forced resettlements. >> the comrades decide how the apartments are to be allotted, and they assign them. >> gloria's assigned space is a choice one -- with a view of the historic plaza vieja. havana has been restoring ruined buildings for some twenty years, converting them into luxury office space, hotels and restaurants. the state invests the revenues from these enterprises in more projects. using capitalist-style profits to finance the rehabbing of the old town is unique for cuban socialism. socialishe urban renewal authors credited with creating jobs for up to tenthousand people, including architects and engineers. and they enjoy a surprising degree of independence in their work. havana's city historian is the ethnic german eusebio leal spengler. he's directing the restoration. >> we never really have eno