Federal Government signs agreement with Rio City Hall for the revitalization of the historic Leopoldina Station property

In addition to the renovation of the station building, the project includes a convention center on the adjacent land - Reproduction

The Federal Government has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the City of Rio to revitalize the historic Leopoldina Station building on Avenida Francisco Bicalho. The announcement was part of the launch and presentation of the Federal Property Democratization Program, held on Monday (26/02) at the Planalto Palace in Brasília. Mayor Eduardo Paes attended the ceremony, which was led by the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accompanied by the Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI), Esther Dweck, and the Chief of Staff, Rui Costa.

The agreement states that the City of Rio will be responsible for renovating the property. Afterwards, the building's intended use will be discussed between the city and the federal government. The technical cooperation also includes the area that comprises the railway lines of the old train station. It will be a multipurpose space, with housing and social facilities.

– In practice, we now have responsibility for that space. Last year, we presented a project that included renovations to the station building. The idea is for it to be occupied by, for example, technical schools run by the Federal Government. We also want to build a convention center, in partnership with the private sector, next to the old building. And, in the back, a housing complex under the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program, in addition to Cidade do Samba 2. So, that is the direction we are going to take. Now it is time to detail the projects and move forward with that. It is a great achievement for the city – stated Mayor Eduardo Paes.

– I am from Rio de Janeiro and I know this property very well, which unfortunately has been unused for some time and is in need of renovation. We managed to reach an understanding with the City Hall, which will carry out the renovation and then we will discuss its use – said Minister Esther Dweck.

The Union will also regularize the situation of the building at Rua Sara, 85, in Santo Cristo, which belonged to the INSS and is currently used by the Vito Giannotti occupation. The Minha Casa Minha Vida Entidades program will help renovate the property, benefiting 26 families.

Union Property Democratization Program
 
Under the new Growth Acceleration Program (New PAC), launched by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services will have an agenda to implement the Program for the Democratization of Federal Real Estate. Coordinated by the ministry, the program aims to allocate properties for social interest that are in an undefined situation, such as empty urban areas, empty and occupied buildings, housing complexes with untitled families, informal urban centers with and without infrastructure (favelas). The program will have four priority lines: housing provision, land regularization and urbanization, public policies, and multi-use developments in large areas.

– The Federal Property Democratization Program has been a desire since the beginning of our term. We want to allocate idle Federal Government properties, ensuring a social function, whether for housing or for new uses of interest to the population of the cities – declared President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

More than 500 federal properties in 200 municipalities are being studied for possible allocation to states, municipalities, social movements and the private sector for the construction of housing and public facilities, among others. In addition to these, which are under the management of the Secretariat of Federal Assets (SPU), the INSS has 3.213 non-operational properties that could be allocated to other projects.

The expected results of the program are to increase the number of housing units for the needy population and also reduce social and environmental risks in vulnerable territories.