Framework
Over the last decades, like in other European cities, important factors have dictated the “abandonment” of the Historic Centre and downtown area of Porto, such as the commitment to urban policies in order to support new construction versus the rehabilitation of the existing built heritage, the decapitalization of the landlords (since the 1940's) as a result of the rent freeze, the bureaucratic issues associated with the licensing of the construction work in an area of recognized historical and heritage value and the economic crisis in general. Although there has been public investment in the Historic Centre since the mid 1970's, it was not possible to prevent the ongoing degradation particularly in Morro da Sé (Cathedral District). As a result, a strong necessity to develop a physical and social intervention derived from this situation.
In 2005, Porto Vivo, SRU (Sociedade de Reabilitação Urbana - Urban Rehabilitation Society) presented the Masterplan for the Urban and Social Revitalization of Downtown Area and Historic Centre of Porto. A document widely discussed with the civil society, which stated the acting strategy that determined the reversal of the spiral of physical degradation and economic and social depression. The Priority Intervention Zone (ZIP – Zona de Intervenção Prioritária) and the set of the six Priority Areas of Intervention (AIP – Áreas de Intervenção Prioritária) were delimited in the Masterplan, among which the AIP of Sé-Vitória. In the context of this AIP, the characteristics of Morro da Sé implying the urgent need of an integrated intervention were pointed out.
Therefore, it is possible to verify how most of the buildings in Morro da Sé are run-down, though their condition of high valued heritage urban set, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. On one hand only 4% of the gross building area (2.504 m2) is in god state of conservation and does not need any kind of intervention. On the other hand the remaining 96% of the gross building area (66.955 m2) requires construction work, of which 46 percent (30.799 m2) requires profound intervention. Moreover, the population is elderly and as far as young residents are concerned, most of them are unemployed, and the youngest suffer from premature school abandonment. When it comes to housing units for rental, most of them register very low rents, limiting the financial capacity of the owners to initiate the necessary rehabilitation or conservation and maintenance work.
In this context, the Urban Renewal Programme of Morro da Sé was defined and it is constituted by the Action Programme for the Urban Rehabilitation of Morro da Sé_CH.1 and by the Permanent Resettlement Programme.
The Action Programme for the Urban Rehabilitation of Morro da Sé_CH.1 was an application to a call launched in 2007 by the Operational Programme of ON.2, “Partnerships for Urban Regeneration” (PRU/1/2007). The main goal of the Programme was to regenerate the area of Morro da Sé with the contribution of European funding. The project triggers the creation of new dynamics like captivating young population and the development of touristic activity, as well as to provide better living conditions to the resident population.
In turn, the Permanent Resettlement Programme arises from the need to resettle families that were temporarily relocated to social housing buildings of the Municipality. This resettlement originated from the process of the buildings becoming vacant with the purpose of reconverting them into a Students Residence and a Touristic Accommodation Unit, operations that are part of the Action Programme for the Urban Rehabilitation of Morro da Sé_CH.1. But including also families that are living today in poor conditions. . Financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Permanent Resettlement Programme is an initiative of Porto Vivo, SRU as the result of a contract signed between Porto Vivo, SRU, Porto City Council and the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU - Instituto da Habitação e Reabilitação Urbana, I.P.).