Reoccupying the center with public administration bodies was one of the ways found to avoid degradation and preserve the city's heritage
Submitted at Feb 6, 2019, 7:55 AM
In recent years, the City of São Paulo has taken on the challenge of redeveloping the city's old center as a space for socializing, culture and connecting with its visitors. Reoccupying the center with public administration bodies was one of the ways found to prevent degradation. and preserve historical heritage. The building of the former Othon Palace Hotel was one of the properties included in the project to revitalize São Paulo's historical heritage. Opened in 1954, the hotel was considered one of the most luxurious in the country, hosting several celebrities. At the end of 2008, it went bankrupt. due to strong competition and the migration of guests to other more valued regions. In 2009, the building was declared of public utility by the City Hall and expropriated for R$31.9 million. 
Located on Rua Líbero Badaró, the building was renovated and now houses around 1,600 employees of the Municipal Finance Department, previously divided into three buildings in the city center. It also houses a service area for over 1,000 people per day. 
In 2010, the building was expropriated to house the Municipal Department of Culture. The restoration, which began in 2012, restored the original features of the building, adapting it for accessibility and safety. R$28.9 million was invested in the work, which was divided between in two stages. Casa Godinho continues to operate on site. 
The Praça das Artes was created to solve a historical problem of lack of space behind the scenes at the Municipal Theater and to house the Dance School and the Municipal School of Music of São Paulo. However, its architectural magnitude and interaction with the city mean that its vocation goes far beyond classical music and dance. The work surrounds the old listed building of the Dramatic and Musical Conservatory of São Paulo and presents itself as a building and square, capable of hosting artistic activities and the public that frequents the center. The first part of the complex, measuring 29 thousand m², was opened in December 2012. 
Several deteriorated properties were expropriated for construction, including the music conservatory, which was restored and incorporated into the complex's design. The Cairo and Saci cinemas were also used, with the former having its façade preserved. 
