Iphan topples Ibirapuera Complex and could frustrate Doria’s concession

On Thursday (4), IPHAN (Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage) approved the provisional listing of the Ibirapuera Complex.

The measure does not prevent it, but it could hinder the plans of the governor of São Paulo, João Doria (PSDB), to grant the device to the private sector.

The decision of the organization’s president, Larissa Peixoto, was published in the Diário Oficial da União. The government of São Paulo has 15 days to try to reverse the decision.

Questioned, the State Sports Department stated in a note that the “Government of São Paulo will take all measures, whether administrative or judicial, to reverse the decision published today by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan), considering that it has not there is any foundation that supports the provisional listing of the facilities at the Constâncio Vaz Guimarães Sports Complex (Ibirapuera)”.

The concession of the complex is an old desire of the Tucana administrations in São Paulo, but it faces resistance from sectors of civil society, such as architects, urban planners, historians and athletes.

In January of this year, the sheet revealed that, after pressure from athletes, President Jair Bolsonaro (no party), Doria’s political enemy, beckoned IPHAN to speed up the process.

The provisional listing has the same practical effect as the definitive one, which means that from now on “possible interventions in it —well listed— and in its surroundings must be previously authorized by the Superintendence of IPHAN in the State of São Paulo”.

The difference is that the provisional registration still needs to be ratified by the highest level of IPHAN, the Advisory Board — there is still no date for the matter to be debated, but the decision is an indication of the direction in which the process is moving.

Being a property protected by the institute does not prevent its concession, but it practically makes the plans of the government of São Paulo to, for example, demolish the athletics gymnasium or build a new arena next to the existing Ibirapuera Gymnasium, for approximately 20 thousand people.

According to the law that organizes the protection of the national historical and artistic heritage, on which IPHAN’s decision is based, “the fallen things cannot, under any circumstances, be destroyed, demolished or mutilated, nor, without prior special authorization from the Heritage Service Historic and National Art, be repaired, painted or restored, under penalty of a fine of fifty percent of the damage caused.”

By law, it is prohibited even to post posters in the vicinity of the sports complex.

Before, another request for listing had already been analyzed by Condephaat, the equivalent of IPHAN for the state of São Paulo. However, at the end of 2020, the government of São Paulo managed to prevent the cause from progressing. Doria changed the composition of the body, which then denied the request.

Also in Conpresp, the municipal equivalent, there is a similar process.

In December 2020, the Doria government’s plans for the location had already been affected by a court decision, which suspended the publication of the notice for the concession of the sports equipment.

Now, even if the state government overturns the court injunction, the notice would be opened under doubts.

A sheet it also showed, in September this year, that during the pandemic the Ibirapuera Complex was emptied and had problems caused by lack of maintenance.

Sports projects were relocated or they were unable to get authorization to resume their activities there, even with the practice of sports being allowed in the state.

In addition, gym officials told the report that registrations for functional training (which serve the population of the neighborhood) were even opened, but that there was an express order for the registration of those who wanted to use the space to be suspended.

Questioned at the time, the government of São Paulo argued that it was still preparing the equipment to receive the public again.