By Mylena Moura – O Dia

Rio — The law establishing the **Praça Onze Maravilha Special Urban Interest Area (AEIU)** in downtown Rio de Janeiro was enacted this Thursday (July 9). The project, which also covers the area surrounding the Sambadrome, as well as parts of Estácio, Cidade Nova, Catumbi, and neighboring districts, is backed by an estimated **R$1.7 billion** investment. Its goal is to boost housing, promote urban development, and revitalize the area.

Rio Mayor **Eduardo Cavaliere** attended the signing ceremony and emphasized the importance of the initiative, citing the deterioration the historic neighborhood has experienced over the years.

> “The truth is that Praça Onze has very few residents. And unfortunately, the area surrounding the Sambadrome has the lowest Social Progress Index in our city,” Cavaliere said.

> “The few people who still live in Praça Onze are, in many cases, living in highly degraded conditions […] a reality far removed from what we expect for any neighborhood in the city. […] We are standing in a place that is unique in our history—not only for Rio, but for Brazil and the world,” the mayor added.

Rio’s Municipal Secretary of Culture, **Lucas Padilha**, also highlighted the project’s significance for the area’s revitalization.

> “Praça Onze was much more than just a square. Its partial demolition was the price of modernization. The square was destroyed to make way for Presidente Vargas Avenue. Since then, it took 80 years for a residential building to be constructed along Presidente Vargas. Looking at downtown once again as a place to live, work, and visit is essential. There is no urban revitalization without housing, commerce, and tourism,” Padilha said.

The event was also attended by Municipal Secretary of Urban Development and Licensing **Gustavo Guerrante** and **Elizeu Santiago**, president of the General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro (AGCRJ).

Among the project’s main planned interventions are the demolition of the **31 de Março Elevated Expressway**, the creation of the **Samba Boulevard** and the **Library of Knowledge**, improvements to road integration, and the redevelopment of the Sambadrome.

Approved by the City Council in May, the project also introduces mechanisms to attract private investment, including authorization for larger developments in exchange for urban planning contributions, as well as public-private partnerships, tax incentives, and the transfer of development rights to other areas of the city.