Morar Carioca do Aço reaches the milestone of 496 families benefited in Santa Cruz.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere handed over the keys to 96 new apartments in the Morar Carioca do Aço housing project in Santa Cruz, in the West Zone, this Sunday (September 13th). With the units in blocks 1 to 6 of Quadra C, the program now benefits 496 families. The project is by the Municipal Urbanization Company (Rio-Urbe), linked to the Municipal Infrastructure Secretariat, which is also responsible for the execution of the works. In total, the initiative represents an investment of R$ 300,9 million.

 

– The Aço community is a symbol of transformation – stated Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere. – It is our commitment to carry out the complete transformation, the urbanization, the change of reality, going from train cars to becoming a neighborhood. It is an impact for the families whose lives are transformed by the project, which has become a national and international reference for urban transformation and housing policy – ​​he added.

 

The apartments are approximately 50 square meters, with a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a balcony, and a service area. All are delivered furnished, and the ground-floor units are adapted for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Each building has four floors, with four apartments per floor.

The delivery continues the program, which already has 400 families living in the new homes. Now, The relocation of residents from blocks 4, 5, and 6 of Quadra C has begun. This means more families will be able to live in better conditions without having to leave the community where they built their lives.

 

The community also receives infrastructure improvements.

 

In addition to housing, the Morar Carioca program is renovating the infrastructure of the Aço Community. The works cover more than 195 square meters of public area, with paving and new drainage, sewage, and water supply networks, as highlighted by the Municipal Secretary of Infrastructure, Wanderson Santos, who was also present at the key handover ceremony:

 

– In addition to delivering these apartments, we will have a complete urbanization project, with the implementation of drainage, water and sewage systems, paving and sidewalks. We will also deliver a commercial area here for the community, so that they can develop the activities they previously carried out in precarious businesses. It is an innovative, revolutionary project that is bringing a lot of quality to the population of the Aço community.

 

In total, 26,1 square meters of streets will be paved with asphalt and another 23,7 square meters will receive concrete. The works include sections of São Gomário and São Corentino streets, as well as 13 other internal roads, to improve the circulation of residents and vehicles.

To facilitate rainwater runoff and reduce accumulation on the streets, 10,9 meters of drainage networks will be installed.

 

In the sanitation sector, plans include 12,9 meters of new sewage networks and 12,8 meters of water supply networks. These improvements will enhance sanitary conditions and strengthen the water supply for families. The reservoir, with a capacity of 3,5 million liters, is already operational.

 

The couple Thiago Machado, 44, and Angélica Cristina Goulart, 37, who are shopkeepers, are among the 96 families who will benefit from receiving a new home. The anticipation kept Thiago awake at night:

 

"It was even a little difficult to sleep last night. There's been a lot of anticipation. I even see it as a welcoming experience, because the situation here was complicated. Living with dignity is the dream of any Brazilian. Now we're going to a place that's totally different in terms of space, infrastructure, and organization. Everything was very precarious where we lived. There were problems with electricity, water leaks, the sewage system clogged every week, the power went out. This place is magical, a dream we don't want to wake up from," said Thiago, accompanied by his wife and their 6-year-old daughter, Valentina.

 

The square expands leisure and social interaction options.

 

Improvements have also been made to leisure spaces. In September 2025, the Aço Community gained a square spanning over 15 square meters, which includes a skate park, bike path, two multi-sports courts, a children's playground, bicycle racks, a picnic area, a Senior Citizens' Fitness Center, and exercise equipment.

 

The area received 200 trees and approximately 5 square meters of lawn. The square offers options for practicing sports, playing, and bringing residents together, complementing improvements in housing and community infrastructure.

Category:

• City
• Infrastructure
• News
• Rio-Urbe

September 13th, 2026

Appointments: Steel Community Living in Rio Santa Cruz West zone