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19th Century Military Symbol, The Tabatinguera Barracks Lost Vitality After Decades Empty, Accumulating Ruins, Invasions, and Thefts While Awaiting Decision on Its Recovery
It is difficult to pass by Dom Pedro II Park and not notice the Tabatinguera Barracks, which stands by the Avenida do Estado showing evident signs of wear.
The former address of the Second Guards Battalion remains among the few non-religious 19th-century buildings still existing in downtown São Paulo, but today it impresses with the presence of debris and its deteriorated appearance.
The first structures were erected in 1842, with brick masonry and rammed earth. The land had been a small farm during the colonial period and received various uses throughout the 19th century, such as a convent, seminaries, and an insane asylum.
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Research from the São Paulo Antiga portal indicates that around 1905, the site underwent adaptations to house the Public Force, an old name for the state police.
The Brazilian government took over the property in 1964 and installed a military battalion there. The area was returned to the state government in 1992, when it began to house the 2nd Guards Battalion of the Military Police. Until then, the building preserved frames, stained glass windows, and maintained exemplary conservation.
From Recognized Heritage to Ruined Structure
Although it is a historical heritage of the city and the state, the barracks have remained empty since 1992 after the transfer of the battalion to Osasco. Without maintenance, the previously cared-for structure entered a continuous degradation process.
In 2022, a visit from Folha de S. Paulo recorded collapsing roofs, the accumulation of trash, and abandoned vehicles from the Military Police. Invasions intensified the deterioration of the space, with thefts of wires, faucets, pipes, gates, and even bricks.
In May 2025, the state government announced that it is studying the recovery of the barracks. The proposal is part of the Center Requalification program and aims to restore the building, in addition to constructing housing for low- and middle-income families in its surroundings. If it advances, the project may reintegrate the Tabatinguera Barracks into Paulistano life after decades of abandonment.
