Downtown revitalization in Brazil: A comparative analysis of Vitória, Fortaleza and Sí£o Luís experiences

Abstract

The study of urban revitalization processes has taken pride of place in the studies of contemporary urban dynamics, given their frequency and broad scope. In the last few decades, they have stood out, among a variety of revitalization processes, for their ability to incorporate "culture" as a differentiating content. In this article, I evaluate the part the heritage has played in the latest attempts at revitalizing the historical areas of Vitória (ES), Fortaleza (CE) and Sí£o Luís (MA), placing special emphasis on the role of the public power to enforce successful revitalization policies. In my opinion, the revitalization processes included in this paper point to innovative articulations among the players involved in them, once they comprise urban historical complexes with items of different values and are subject to local governments more or less committed to the revitalization of urban centers.

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