The Porto Maravilha Project continued a line of urbanism marked by a neoliberal perspective, under the Eduardo Paes administration and with the city's victory in securing the 2016 Olympics and its participation in the 2014 World Cup. The mayor's great dream was to turn the city into a competitive product, and to that end, he carried out actions developed by the Secretariat of Public Order, called “order shocks,” which involved the “cleaning up” of Rio de Janeiro. There was repression of informal work, the removal of the homeless population, the demolition of buildings that could become occupations, and the construction of the so-called “eco-limits” to prevent the growth of favelas. With this, municipal authority was reestablished.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white aerial photograph of an urban area. On the left, we see the neighborhood of São Cristóvão, with its streets and buildings. In the center, the neighborhoods of Gamboa, Saúde, Providência, and Pedra Lisa stand out, marked in yellow. On the right, we find the Centro neighborhood. In the background, there are areas of special urban interest in the Porto region, outlined with blue lines.Bounded on the map by the white line, the Porto Maravilha area corresponds to nearly a third of the city center (Image: Mariana Werneck, based on data from Cdurp/IPP). Image taken from the Agência Pública website
The rise in urban land value increased the process of gentrification, causing working-class neighborhoods that made up the Zona Portuária to become the focus of radical changes for being considered problematic and "undesirable" areas. From then on, the Zona Portuária was defined as a priority for a general overhaul organized through public-private partnerships that freed up space for real estate speculation with the removal of Perimetral Avenue. The Porto Novo Consortium, made up of companies linked to civil construction, was responsible for the necessary adjustments to carry out the intended changes through the Companhia de Desenvolvimento Urbano da Região do Porto do Rio de Janeiro (CDURP).
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an industrial setting. On the left, we see a series of metal structures, possibly platforms or access bridges. In the center, there is a large cloud of smoke or steam rising from the ground, creating a dramatic scene. On the right, there is a long, low building with many windows, appearing to be a factory or warehouse. The sky is cloudy, giving the image a somber tone.Demolition of the Elevado da Perimetral in 2013. Image taken from the Museu do Amanhã website
The project associated with the Zona Portuária, structured as a development with renovated spaces, policing, urban cleaning, and its own governance, impacted downtown as a whole with the creation of boulevards, the operation of the VLT and its integration with the subway, and the revitalization of Rodrigues Alves avenue, transformed into Boulevard Olímpico and integrating Praça Mauá with the bus station area and with Praça XV, via Orla Conde. There were also impacts in the regions of Caju and Brasil avenue, as well as in Estácio.
Image description: This is a photograph of an urban location, possibly a historic center or an area under construction. On the left, there is a large building with many windows and a light-colored façade. In the center, there is a stone and concrete structure that appears to be undergoing renovation or construction. On the right, there are tall palm trees and other modern buildings. The sky is light blue, indicating a sunny day.During the works, the Cais do Valongo — the largest port for receiving enslaved people in the Americas — was "rediscovered." Public domain image - Wikimedia Commons
The urbanization of Largo da Prainha, Rua Sacadura Cabral, and Praça da Harmonia impacted the region's commerce. The Mário Filho stadium, the Maracanã, was also affected and changed its shape, losing several of its original features.
