The project to revamp downtown São Paulo

When elected officials announce new, grandiose projects, São Paulo residents know better than to get excited right away. After all, delays and hiccups are part of public works in Brazil. The metro line connecting the city center to Guarulhos International Airport was promised for the 2014 World Cup—but only opened when Brazil was taking the field as the World Cup in Russia, four years later. So, when the mayor’s office announced a project to revitalize the iconic Vale do Anhanbagaú, few people batted an eyelid.

But City Hall seems to be more committed to its project, which is the largest revamp sponsored by the Bruno Covas administration so far. The municipal government expects to finish the works by June 2020, spending BRL 80 million. “The Vale do Anhanbagaú revamp boosts not only the debate about the ways to use and recover environmental structures of public spaces but it also improves and renews the structure of downtown,” City Hall representatives told The Brazilian Report.

The overhaul was announced on Monday and, by Thursday, workers were seen breaking paving stones and cleaning the space, to make room for construction equipment. In fact, to fulfill the ambitious plan, they will need to work fast.

The project includes a complete change of the so-called “Portuguese mosaic” paving stones—beautiful, but far from functional—to make it accessible for people with disabilities and friendlier for cyclists and skateboarders. It will also create a huge wide space, suitable for gathering thousands of people during events and allowing an easy transfer from the two metro stations (São Bento and Anhangabaú) which flank the valley.

Parallel streets will also be renovated with new newspaper stands, trash bins, and drinking fountains. Neighboring Avenida São...