MEGA-EVENTS IN RIO DE JANEIRO AND THEIR ... - FAU

C i t i e s , m o d e r n i z a t i o n a n d c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m : s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d
c u l t u r a l c h a l l e n g e s
the argument of “internationalization”, to be contemporary and modern,
prevails over the local needs.
It consists of Public Private Partnership, which the concessionary company
responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the urban infrastructure,
currently lead by the Urban Development of the Port Area Company – CDURP.
The project based on a statutory framework that shifts the uses of the land and
allowing higher index of land occupation. The additional indexes are obtained
through CEPACS (Certificado de Potencial Adicional de Construção - CEPACs) in
public auctions held at the Stock market.
The surpluses should be invested on the urban renovation of the area. At the
present time, investment in the area receives tax reduction by the
municipality, which means that the investors receive twice, once constructing
as high as they wish (paying for that), improving the area that they are
implementing and paying less taxes.
In general, the project includes piers for cruise ships, extension of the plaza
Mauá and requalification of the urban space through the destruction of the
elevated way and the construction of an underground tunnel (which hides the
problem, but does not solve the traffic. This is with high costs.
Plus cultural projects as museums, including one by the famous Spanish
architect Santiago Calatrava that can be considered an element to instigate in
the imaginary of the people the “global city” image.
It is favorable to give special attention to the port area location that is part of
the origins of the city and is currently sub-used. However, it is very
questionable the way that this transformation has been happening as well as
the ones to be benefited by it.
Close to the port area is the historical center of Rio de Janeiro, home to large
amounts of heritage architecture, with lack of maintenance, a high level of
vacant houses, degraded buildings, and places with low quality of urban
environment. This area asks for strategies to rescue and reinforce the historical
identity of the city, but, unfortunately, it is not included in the mega-events
packet.
THE MEGA-EVENTS CONDUCTING PUBLIC POLICIES
It is possible to notice that the mega-events have also been conducting public
polices regarding actions at the informal settlements. Two of the most relevant
programs concerning informal settlements, are first going to happen in the
surrounding areas of the sport facilities until the realization of the Olympic
Games 2016. Then, as the last priority are the other slums in the town,
regardless of how poor the situation is.
The programs are the UPPs [Pacificatory Police Units] and the Morar Carioca
[Living Carioca]. The table below demonstrates the priority criteria that the
municipality has used to choose the locations to receive the interventions: