Ocupar o centro: diretrizes para regularização de vazios urbanos em áreas centrais como habitação de interesse social

Abstract

Motivated by the question “how to transform urban voids occupied by social movements into safe housing”, this work has as main objective the proposal of guidelines for regularization of an urban void as social housing, based on the experience with the Palmares occupation. In central areas, the abandonment processes led to the formation of voids, as in the case of Natal, especially in the Ribeira district. In parallel to the idleness, the housing deficit in Brazil is significant and there is an urgent need for housing of social interest. In this context, urban occupations organized by movements fighting for habitations are ways of living and claiming their rights. In order to understand the formation process of urban voids in central areas, with emphasis on the Ribeira neighborhood, we used bibliographic and documentary research. To understand urban occupations in central areas, focusing on the movement that operates in Natal, the Movimento de Luta nos Bairros, Vilas e Favelas (MLB), we rely on literature, on conversations with the movement and visits to the Palmares Occupation, as well as studies fo experiences developed in other cities with buildings occupied for habitation. Legislative research was necessary to understand the law that regulates the Urban Land Regularization instrument and its possibilities. We identified legal occupation bases for permanent residence of the urban occupations in urban voids, as well as for the requalification of these spaces. We observed that the MLB occupations in the central area of ​​Natal, even when the housing units were conquered, were relocated in the city periphery. On the other hand, the movement confirmed his intention to occupy and live in the center. The guidelines were elaborated based on the theoretical basis, the analysis of the urban voids in the Ribeira neighborhood, the needs of the Palmares Occupation and the identified references, as well as from analysis of the Café Filho Building. Possibilities of aquiring the property for the movement were pointed out, as well as strategies to finance its requalification. Aspects of qualification of the risks that the empty Building may offer to its residentes were also highlited. In space reorganization studies, we point out the possibility of creating 71 housing units, collective uses and shops/services to compose the residents' income. We consider that not every urban void is suitable for conversion to housing use, and it is necessary to identify and categorize them for reactivation under proper use, with priority for housing. In the process of regularization of urban occupations, the field of technical assistance emerges as a transforming power allied to the social movements claims.