Verticalização no bairro centro de Erechim: processos, agentes e planejamento urbano (2004-2024)

Abstract

The study analyzed the phenomenon of verticalization in a medium-sized city in Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting its urban transformations and impacts on local planning. The general objective was to understand how vertical densification in the center of Erechim developed between 2004 and 2024, involving social and economic agents and their interactions with urban planning. Methodologically, the research used a bibliographic review, document analysis, and geoprocessing to map buildings and real estate offers in specific years (2004, 2014, and 2024). Satellite images and data from real estate listings were analyzed to identify the evolution in the number of buildings and the activities of local real estate agencies. The results reveal a significant increase in the neighborhood's verticalization, driven by real estate developers and the economic interest in land appreciation. It was observed that central areas began to attract investments for buildings with four or more floors, influencing the urban landscape and generating new patterns of occupation. Urban planning policies, particularly zoning regulations and the 2019 Master Plan, played a crucial role in shaping the verticalization process by allowing higher building volumes and taller structures. The study concluded that verticalization in downtown Erechim brought both benefits, such as optimized land use, improved infrastructure, and increased density, as well as challenges, including socio-spatial segregation due to the overvaluation of land and buildings in this area, and the concentration of infrastructure in already privileged zones. The study highlights the need for more inclusive urban planning to address inequalities and promote balanced development in the city.