The case of the Paraisópolis Complex management: Conceptual differences of the slums intervention programs in São Paulo

Abstract

The paper presents and analyzes the urban interventions led by the government in Paraisópolis Complex, São Paulo, in the period between 2001-2016, during the administrations of Marta Suplicy (2001-2004), José Serra (2005-2006), Gilberto Kassab (2006-2012) and Fernando Haddad (2013-2016). Paraisópolis Complex is the second largest slum in São Paulo, with approximately 60,000 people and about 18,000 households. The area was an old farmhouse, which in 1921 was split in 2,200 lots. The road structure, unsuited to topography, resulted in slope greater than 40%, imparing the occupation of lots, invaded since 1970. We present the urban interventions carried out in Paraisópolis during four municipal administrations, qualitatively analyze the differences and similarities between them, to understand and characterize the recent practices of the government. Our results, especially the specializations of the interventions, made it possible to perceive the difficulties and fragility involved in the intervention dynamics in precarious settlements, since many projects represent, in practice, forced evictions because they constitute incomplete actions. Thus, through the analysis of Paraisópolis, this paper discusses the major impasses, limits and social implications that limit restrict the effectiveness of intervention programs in slums, which are still extraterritorial issues, mostly political.