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Rio de Janeiro City Hall hands over keys to the first properties of the Reviver Centro Patrimônio PRÓ-APAC project.
Published on 12/08/2026 - 15:23 | Updated on 13/08/2026 - 11:08
Buildings located on Rua do Teatro will be revitalized with financial support from the Municipality - Fabio Motta/Rio City Hall The Rio de Janeiro City Hall handed over the keys to the first 11 historic buildings, located on Rua do Teatro, on Wednesday (August 12th). These buildings are part of the Reviver Centro Patrimônio Pró-APAC project and will be restored with municipal subsidies. The ceremony, led by the Secretaries of Economic Development and Urban Development and Licensing, Osmar Lima and Gustavo Guerrante, respectively, also included the participation of the Municipal Secretary of Culture, Lucas Padilha, and the president of the Rio Heritage of Humanity Institute (IRPH), Laura Di Blasi. The event was held at the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura and marked a new stage in the initiative, which aims to stimulate the requalification of dilapidated buildings and contribute to the revitalization of the city's central region.
— The revitalization of the city center needs to be considered in an integrated way, because the restoration of buildings and the occupation of spaces generate impacts that go far beyond the physical transformation of the region. When culture, commerce, services, housing, and new businesses coexist in the same territory, we create a more attractive environment for people and companies. It's a virtuous circle that boosts the economy in the short term and, at the same time, expands the potential for innovation, creativity, and the generation of new businesses in the long term — highlighted the municipal secretary of Economic Development, Osmar Lima.
The properties were expropriated through public auction and acquired by House RJ and the Royal Portuguese Reading Room. The owners will receive a subsidy of up to R$ 3.212 per square meter to cover the costs of restoration and requalification works, according to the criteria established in the public notice and the adhesion agreement. Also participating in the program is the Venerable Third Order of Minims, based at the Church of São Francisco de Paula, which has committed to restoring properties surrounding Largo de São Francisco de Paula. As the church is a listed building, there are limitations on works and alterations that could affect it, including interventions in nearby buildings. Given the importance of the architectural and cultural ensemble of the region, recognized by the Municipality, the Order will restore these properties and give them new uses.
The properties included are located on Rua do Teatro, at numbers 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 37, and on Largo de São Francisco de Paula, at numbers 19, 21 and 23, all in the city center. The list also includes the land known as “Lote 1”, located on Rua Particular, at numbers 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, also in the city center.
— Rehabilitating Rua do Teatro and the Largo de São Francisco area means bringing housing, new uses, and legal security, showing that preserving memory and urban development can go hand in hand. With the delivery of these keys, we are taking another concrete step in consolidating the Master Plan for this region — stated the Municipal Secretary of Urban Development and Licensing, Gustavo Guerrante.
The SMDE and SMDU teams mapped over 4 dilapidated properties in the region. Technicians defined the areas of focus and conducted the auction. If the interventions are not carried out according to the conditions established in the public notice, the properties may revert to the ownership of the Municipality.
The Reviver Centro Patrimônio PRÓ-APAC project is coordinated by the municipal secretariats of Economic Development (SMDE) and Urban Development and Licensing (SDMU). Its objective is to integrate public policies for urban requalification, preservation of historical heritage, and strengthening of economic activity, contributing to the transformation of the city center into a more dynamic, occupied, and valued region.
Reviver Centro expands housing and new uses in the region.
Launched by the City Hall in 2021 to boost the recovery of the central region, the Reviver Centro Program reached new milestones in August. According to the Official Monitoring Panel, updated on August 6, 81 licenses were granted, totaling 8.903 new residential units and 95 units intended for commercial, service, and cultural activities — 8.998 in total. In 2026 alone, 1.528 housing units were licensed in 12 developments.
The numbers reflect the Municipality's strategy of attracting new residents and uses to the city center, taking advantage of existing transportation, leisure, and service infrastructure. Another 27 license applications are under review, with the potential to add another 824 homes to the area.
According to Laura Di Blasi, president of the Rio Heritage of Humanity Institute (IRPH), the handover of the keys represents a milestone for municipal policies on urban preservation and redevelopment.
— The Pró-APAC program was designed to ensure that urban redevelopment preserves the identity, architecture, and details that make downtown Rio a unique heritage site. The Municipality's participation, with direct incentives, is an important boost to uniting heritage conservation with the community and economic life of the region — stated Laura.
New uses are revitalizing the city center.
In addition to the Reviver Centro Patrimônio PRÓ-APAC program, the City Hall maintains other initiatives to encourage the occupation of properties, strengthen economic and cultural activity, and improve public spaces in the central region.
One of them is the Reviver Rua da Cerveja (Revive Beer Street) project, created to rehabilitate properties and encourage new uses on Rua da Carioca, focusing on the formation of a hub for craft breweries. The project encourages the installation of brewpub-style establishments, which produce and sell beer and food on-site. To attract businesses, the City Hall offered financial incentives for renovations and operational expenses. Nine breweries joined the program, and six are already in operation.
The initiative also includes the redevelopment of Rua da Carioca, with the widening of sidewalks, creation of public spaces, new lighting, tree planting, and reorganization of lanes for cars and buses. The project brings together the municipal departments of Urban Development and Licensing and Economic Development, CCPar, and IRPH, as well as other municipal bodies responsible for urban interventions.
Culture occupies buildings and gains space.
Another initiative is Reviver Cultural, created to give new uses to vacant properties and expand the presence of cultural activities in the city center. The program connects these spaces to artistic and cultural establishments and projects and offers financial support for the restoration of properties considered strategic for the region.
The proposal aims to expand the use of spaces, attract new businesses and cultural activities, and strengthen the economic and urban recovery of the city center. Initially created by the Urban Development and Economic Development departments, in partnership with CCPar, the Reviver Cultural program became part of the scope of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture (SMC) in 2025.
These initiatives are part of the City Hall's strategy to expand occupancy in the city center, renovate buildings, attract residents and new businesses, and strengthen the region as a hub for culture, services, commerce, and leisure.
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