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Historical community surrounded by high-standard developments faces increasing pressure and uncertainty about staying in the region
An urban area marked by decades of popular occupation has recently begun to face a silent territorial dispute in one of the most valued regions of São Paulo.
The favela of Jardim Panorama, located in the West Zone, has become a symbol of a conflict between traditional residents and the advance of the high-end real estate market.
The community emerged in the 1950s, before the consolidation of Morumbi and the Marginal Pinheiros, and today houses about 1,100 families in an area of 33,105 square meters.
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Over the decades, the surroundings have been transformed with the arrival of business centers, luxury condominiums, and high-income projects.
Real estate pressure increases with the appreciation of the surroundings
Currently, the territory is situated between Shopping Cidade Jardim and Avenues School, known for tuition fees exceeding R$ 15,000.
In light of this, residents report that the value of the area has begun to be seen as strategic by public and private agents.
According to local reports, this appreciation has intensified the pressure for families to leave, who have lived in the area for over six decades.
Moreover, previous episodes indicate that financial offers have already been made for eviction, according to a report by Folha de S.Paulo in 2007.
Change in housing plan alters the scenario
Initially, in 2023, the City Hall of São Paulo presented a project that envisioned the urbanization of the area with the residents’ permanence.
In the proposal, the expropriation of a nearby land would be carried out for the construction of housing units.
The model stipulated that families would leave their homes only after the delivery of the new properties, ensuring continuity in the region.
However, in 2024, during the administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes, the plan was halted.
Since then, the adopted alternative has been the Pode Entrar program, which provides for the purchase of available properties in the market.
However, this model does not guarantee that residents will remain in the same area.
Rent assistance and emergency removals
At the same time, in June 2024, the city hall approved the payment of R$ 600 monthly rent assistance, according to the Municipal Housing Secretariat (Sehab).
This measure was implemented after the removal of about 297 families from areas considered at risk.
The so-called Eucalyptus Area was classified as vulnerable due to the risk of falling trees, landslides, and fires.
In light of this, the removal was carried out on an emergency basis, according to technical studies from Sehab.
Even so, residents report financial difficulties and concerns about the future.
Many depend on the assistance to maintain proximity to work and essential services in the region.
Risk of displacement and increasing inequality
Furthermore, experts point out that the new housing model may deepen urban inequalities.
According to research from the University of São Paulo (USP), the amounts paid by the city hall limit purchasing options.
In practice, the properties available within the valued area exceed the estimated values by about R$ 218,000, making it difficult for residents to stay.
Consequently, families may be directed to more distant neighborhoods.
According to architect Cristina Wehba, the replacement of local urbanization by the purchase of units in the market tends to distance residents from their social and economic networks.
This process can break ties with work, school, and community support.
Social interest zone and urban operation
Jardim Panorama is part of the Faria Lima Consortium Urban Operation, which allows for the flexibility of urban rules through financial compensations.
These resources, derived from the sale of Cepacs, should finance social interest housing in the region.
Moreover, the area is classified as a Special Social Interest Zone (ZEIS), an instrument that seeks to guarantee affordable housing in valued areas.
Current impasse maintains uncertainty
Currently, the Municipal Secretariat of Urbanism and Licensing reported that it has opened a public call for the acquisition of up to 6,000 housing units.
The submission of proposals from the private sector is scheduled for April 24, according to an official statement.
Still, the case involves a collective usucapion lawsuit, with no defined timeline for resolution.
In the meantime, residents remain dependent on rent assistance and without guarantees of nearby resettlement.
In practice, the impasse highlights a historical pattern in Brazilian cities, where low-income populations are pressured to leave valued areas.
In light of this scenario, the permanence of families in Jardim Panorama remains undefined — raising a central question: who can really stay in the most valued areas of large cities?
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