In a upscale area of Zona Sul, near Jardim de Alá, the Praia do Pinto favela arose in the mid-1930s, one of the largest flat favelas in the city, with around 9,000 residents. In the early hours of May 12, 1969, a
never justified, destroyed more than a thousand shacks, leaving the population homeless.
Since the 1950s, the auxiliary bishop of Rio de Janeiro and secretary general of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), D. Helder Câmara, had developed a pastoral outreach to the favelas and focused his attention on Praia do Pinto. D. Helder developed a program to assist the popular classes that involved the construction of buildings on land near the favelas, which would serve for the transition of residents from one place to another.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a smiling man wearing religious garments, including a black chasuble and a chain with a pendant. He is raising the fingers of his right hand in an expressive gesture. In the background, there is a crowd of people, though they are not clearly identifiable.Dom Hélder Câmara. Unidentified photographer - Arqrio website
The fire at Favela da Praia do Pinto -- which occurred during a tense period of resistance to removals by favela residents -- set the precedent for the construction of a housing complex right in Jardim de Alá, where some residents of Favela da Praia do Pinto were relocated to.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white illustration of an urban planning project. On the left side, we see green areas and roads extending toward the center of the image. In the center, there are several buildings, including tall and low structures, and a large complex that appears to be a stadium. To the right, the skyline shows a densely populated city with many buildings. At the top of the image is written "PROJETO PARA O TERRENO DA FAVELA DA PRAIA DO PINTO."Project for the construction of a housing complex on the site where the Favela da Praia do Pinto once stood. Website Medium
The Conjunto Habitacional Cruzada São Sebastião, inaugurated in 1955, has ten buildings and 945 two-bedroom apartments with all the urban facilities necessary for the residents' lives, such as a school and the Santos Anjos Church, the entrance gateway to the complex, which serves as spiritual and social support for the inhabitants of the Cruzada São Sebastião.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a housing complex called "Cruzada São Sebastião." The image shows several residential building constructions in an urban area. On the left side, there is a small group of people walking along a street. In front of them, there is a tree and an old car. In the center, there are more buildings with many windows, and on the right, an even larger building with more windows. In the background, there is a hill covered with vegetation.Unidentified photographer. Source: A Cruzada ontem e hoje - article from the newspaper O Globo, Rio de Janeiro, 8/10/2013. Agência O Globo. Available at http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/a-cruzada-ontem-hoje-10538269
