It’s time to revitalize the surroundings and expand/modernize São Januário Stadium!

NOTE: This Article is in the Original Version, in Portuguese, at the following Link: https://webvasco.com/artigos/colunistas/marcelopaiva/chegou-a-hora-da-revitalizacao-do-entorno-e-da-ampliacao-modernizacao-do-estadio-de-sao-januario/

[1] Introducion:

     Dears Vascaínos friends:

     I come, through this article, to bring technical and detailed material to Vascaínos fans, which serves as a beacon and understanding, for the maturation of the Expansion/Modernization, of the São Januário Stadium, belonging to our beloved Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (CRVG).

     This matter is returning to Vascaínos fans, since the parties (CRVG and the Public Power, say City Hall of the City of Rio de Janeiro and Government of the State of RJ), have recently expressed their intention to carry out this purpose, concomitantly, in what belongs to each of the parties.

     As for the CRVG, it would be the Project and the work itself, and to the Public Power, Public Actions that enable and update the SJ Surroundings, such as: Acessibility and Urban Mobility, as well as other services arising from it (Work Licenses, Habitat, Logistics Interventions, Relative Taxes, etc …), to serve, as a prerequisite, for the realization of this purpose.

[2] Going back a few years ago:

     As is know in Vascaínos fans, I, Marcelo Paiva, am part of this Volunteer Group fos the Revitalization of the Surroundings of São Januário (GVRESJ), togheter with André Pedro, Marcus Simonini, Raimundo Almeida, Maurício Mendes and Phillipi Labanca, where from the year 2011, we created this voluntary group, whose purpose is to, through our expertise, serve as a Voluntary Advisory Service between the CRVG and the Government, as a “connection bridge” for both, so that this Noble Purpose can be made viable, whose lines of Actions so far have already yielded some results!

      We all know that, for some years now, there has been a chronic problem of Accessibility and Public Flow, in Vasco da Gama games, in their Stadium, since its neighborhood are narrow and the place NEEDS PUBLIC WORKS, in that REGION FORGOTTEN BY THE SAME for over 70 years.

     If such interventions are SEEN, by the Public Power itself, as URGENT DEMANDS to be carried out, that is where the prerequisite for the Expansion/Modernization of São Januário comes in, in the segments of Accessibility, Urban Mobility, Housing (New Buildings), Education (New Schools, Daycare Centers and Renovations of the existing ones), Health (New Health Centers and Renovation of the existing ones), Security, Transport, Public Lighting, Garbage Collection, Leisure, etc …, wich Will GENERATE THE INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN THAT NEEDED REGION, for decades.

      All Residents of the Region will win, the CRVG, the passersby, the City of Rio de Janeiro itself with a Revitalized Sports Equipment, serving as na “Anchor” for these Transformations, as well as the São Cristóvão District, wich hás the Historic and Cultural Appeal for having the nickname of “Imperial Neighborhood”, where the Brazilian Empire was estabilished in this Region!

[3] Some necessary information, to enter the purpose:

     Two “saddled horses” passed through the door of the CRVG, so that this Expansion/Modernization, as a Line of Action, could have been carried out:

     The first took place when the CRVG was sought out by the City of Rio de Janeiro, so that the São Januário Stadium could serve as an Olimpic Stadium for the 2007 Pan American Games and that the parties did not reach a “common denominator”! This fact proves why the Nilton Santos Stadium exists today, belonging to the City Hall (leased by Botafogo FR).

      The second took place on the occasion that the CRVG was chosen by the COB, with the signing of a Letter of Intent (July 2010), in the Club itself between the parties, on the occasion of the Rio 2016 Olympics, to host the Rugby and that after some time, there was no understading between the aforementioned parties, for the realization of this Olympic Sport, which would require the Revitalization of the Surroundings (Municipal Housing Program “Morar Carioca”) and the Modernization of the São Januário Stadium.

     Even with the loss of Rugby Rio 2016 in SJ, the “Morar Carioca” Program remained active and the Revitalization of the Surroundings of São Januário Stadium was again spoken by the Mayor of the City of Rio de Janeiro, in July 2014, as in the following Link: (http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/guest/exibeconteudo?id=4822086 – this Link is no longer available on the Internet, but we have its content Printed in Archive, the wich guarantees the veracity of the information), including the amount foreseen in the amount of BRL 31,000,000.00 (Thirty-One Million Reais, a small amount for such improvements) for Accessibility Works, Housing, Land Regularization, Sanitation, Lighting, Leisure, etc …

      Regardless of the loss of Rugby Rio 2016, in SJ, the Surrounding Revitalization is in “hold measure”, in its Macro Mode, although a few interventions are being made so far!

      It is worth mentioning that the “Vasco da Gama Station”, of the BRT Transbrasil Consortium, is being built on Av Brasil, about 800 meters from the SJ Stadium. For those Who don’t know what the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) is, it is na Express Bus Corridor, which Will connect the Deodoro neighborhood to Santos Dumont Airport, in downtown Rio de Janeiro. This Station has the “Modal” Function, wich will allow connections with other Transport segments in the City, such as the BRT, VLT, Metro, Trains, Buses, Taxis, Ferries, etc …

      THE INITIAL PROJECT WAS FINANCED at BRL 100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Reais), by the IDB, planned for that Region, when the CRVG had a Letter of Intent signed to host the Rugby Rio 2016 Olympic Event, as seen above (VIEW BY CLICKING HERE – (https://vejario.abril.com.br/cidade/avenida-brasil-tera-novo-acesso-a-sao-cristovao/) or (https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/r-100-milhoes-em-obras-na-barreira-do-vasco-no-caju-7753797)).

      In September 2011, I and my friend, colleague on purpose and colleague by profession, Civil Engineer Raimundo Almeida, were at CAU-RJ (Centre for Architecture and Urbanism of the City of Rio de Janeiro) in a MEETING with the Urban Planning Coordinator Municipal, Dr Helena Rego, at the request of the Municipal Secretary, at the time, Dr Sérgio Dias, in order to present SUGGESTIONS and JOINT IDEAS, for that region forgotten for decades, as we had ACCESS to the aforementioned MUNICIPAL PROJECT, for that Area.

      One of our recommendations, which the City Hall project KEPT LIKE with our suggestions, was the planned street accessing Av Brasil to Rua General Almério de Moura, site of the SJ Stadium.

      We left this Meeting with a good reception from the Urban Planning Coordinator and WE REPRODUCE IN THE IMAGE BELOW, in a simplistic and artisanal way, the ACCESSIBILITY QUESTION provided for in that project and which is still in “waiting step”:

      We state to Vasco da Gama fans that this is a punctual and necessary Action Line for the surroundings of the SJ, as it will benefit CRVG, as well as all Residents, Workers, Merchants and the Population of the City of Rio de Janeiro, which will gain new gateways to the São Cristóvão Region and surroundings.

      This purpose has the support of residents, merchants, entrepreneurs in the region and authorities of the Imperial Neighborhood of São Cristóvão and surroundings, as this initiative will leverage the INVESTMENT POTENTIAL in that Neighborhood, revitalizing it, opening the possibility of new Housing Properties. , Commercial, Industrial, Cultural, such as: Malls, Stores, Cinemas, Leisure Areas, Medical Centers, among others, which will move from a current “STAGNANT AND DECAYING REGION”, to the condition of “INVESTMENTS POTENTIAL REGION”!

[4] “Points of Interest” Neighboring the SJ Stadium:

[4.1] Quinta da Boa Vista:

[4.2] Centro de Tradições Nordestinas (São Cristóvão Fair):     

[4.3] CADEG – Neigborhood of Benfica (Food and Product Market)::

[4.4] Current Surroundings São Januário (SJ) and Stadium, to be Revitalized:

[4.5] Distances from São Januário Stadium:

SJ x Av. Brasil (BR 101 Higway)	0,3 Km
SJ x  Rio/Niterói Bridge (BR 101 Higway)	3 Km
SJ x Rio de Janeiro Downtown	8 Km
SJ x BRT Vasco da Gama Station	0,8 Km
SJ x  Rio de Janeiro Bus Station	4 Km
SJ x Rio de Janeiro Port	6 Km
SJ x Santos Dumont Airport (Rio de Janeiro Downtown)	10 Km
SJ x Galeão/Tom Jobim International Airport (North Zone of Rio de Janeiro)	12 Km
SJ x BR 040 Highway (Rio x Belo Horizonte)	12 Km
SJ x BR 116 Highway (Rio x São Paulo)	17 Km
SJ x Moacyr Barbosa Training Center (Jacarepaguá)	23 Km
SJ x São Cristóvão Train and Metro Stations (next to Quinta da Boa Vista)	2 Km
SJ x Maracanã Stadium	3 Km
SJ x Quinta da Boa Vista	1,5 Km
SJ x Center of Northeastern Traditions	1,5 Km
SJ x CADEG	1,5 Km

      As we can see, by the Relevant Icons close to São Januário and by its excellent geographical location, in the City of Rio de Janeiro, the São Januário Stadium and its surroundings, DESERVE the OBSERVATION of the Public Power, so that an URBANISTIC TRANSFORMATION, be done to satisfaction and that it will come out of the paper.

[5] Eletronic Undersigned (10,313 Signatures) claiming SJ Surroundings Revitalization:

      In October 2012, the Voluntary Group for the Revitalization of the Surroundings of São Januário (GVRESJ) filed an Electronic Petition with 10,313 Signatures at the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro (Petition + Name Notebook, with Surnames and reference e-mails), demanding that the Stadium Surroundings be Revitalized, since at that time the CRVG was scheduled to host Rugby Rio 2016, as previously reported and which ended up not happening.

      The fact is that this Line of Action was disseminated in Vasco da Gama Fans and in the Sports Media, in general, and until today the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, HAS NOT GAVE ANY ANSWER.

[5.1] Copy of the Petition of the Electronic Undersigned, with the respective Protocol of Entry:

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[6] Final Considerations and Conclusion:

      As we can see in this article, there are plenty of arguments and concrete facts to JUSTIFY such a Noble Purpose, so that the Expansion/Modernization of the São Januário Stadium, belonging to the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (CRVG), can be successful, since it is the desire of the Club, aiming at the Centenary of this Stadium, in 2027, so that it is already Modernized.

      It is also the wish of the Public Power (City Hall and State Government), publicly expressed by Mayor Eduardo Paes and Governor Cláudio Castro, regarding the Segments belonging to each of the Entities, as already reported in this article, since the SJ Stadium is close to the “Porto Maravilha Programme” and which can be part of its Extension, with Accessibility, Urban Mobility, Transport, Health, Security, Housing, Sport, Culture and Tourism.

      Aiming at these premises, the Volunteer Group for the Revitalization of the Surroundings of SJ (GVRESJ) was present with the CRVG Boards (in 2012 – Roberto Dinamite Management, in 2015 – Eurico Miranda Management, in 2018 – Alexandre Campello Management and 2021 – Jorge Salgado Management (Represented by its VP of Works and Engineering, Dr Pedro Seixas, who continued the portfolio of the previous Board)), where we presented our Volunteer Work and ours Achievements, leaving with all of them, a Didactic Material of all this purpose and of all Actions Lines performed.

      Unfortunately, both Boards were not successful, just as the Public Power was not interested in following this noble cause forward, much more so because there was a lack POLITICAL WILL BETWEEN THE PARTIES, as well as taking into account the fact that the Covid-19 Pandemic, has also contributed to the “emptying” of this purpose!

      A New Fact, which could leverage the revitalization of the surroundings and the SJ Stadium is the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) started at CRVG, in August of this year, with regard to 70% of the Club’s Football Shares, which may become interested in Investing in this purpose, helping to leverage this Line of Action before the Club and the Government.

      In January 2021, GVRESJ was at the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, with the Deputy Mayor of Downtown and São Cristóvão Neighborhood, Mr Leonardo Pavão, who received us very well at the request of the Mayor, Mr Eduardo Paes, who was very busy with the eminent Pandemic, on that occasion, for an exchange of suggestions for that Region, where we left a Material of about 100 pages, with demands, documents and materials from the surroundings, which was to be appreciated by both.

      Based on all that has been exposed so far, we can be sure that the Expansion/Modernization of the São Januário Stadium (Current Nominal Capacity of 22,000 Spectators, and then its expansion to 43,000 Spectators, almost double), will only be possible with the Support of the Public Power, successfully revitalizing its surroundings, which is the Pre-Requirement of any and all Lines of Action, in that Region forgotten 70 Years ago by itself, as previously reported.

      It is enough for the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro to put into practice the Project planned for Rio 2016 (Program “Morar Carioca”), as mentioned earlier in this article (both in the previous Imagem Artesanal and with the funds allocated and demonstrated, in the Links before of that image).

      That’s it for now and we want the Public Power to UNDERSTAND that for an São Januário Stadium Expansion Work to be carried out, the City Hall will have to issue Works Licenses and it is KNOW that the problems of DISPLACEMENTES and ACCESS will DOUBLE, by increasing the Capacity Nominal of the Stadium, if there are no such Public Interventions that will make such a Work FEASIBLE, beneficial to that Region, according to the arguments explained here.

      It would be counter-sense for the Municipality to issue such Works Licenses, if it does not take ACTION, which only it can take, that will serve as Accessibility and Local Mobility, since it is RESPONSIBLE for such INTERVENTIONS, reiterating: DELAYED 7 decades ago (“mantra” that has to be assimilated, to have the idea of ​​the DELAY of Public Actions in that place).

      As a final consideration, any resident who may be “impacted”, in the works of Road Widening and in the Execution of the 2 new streets, within the Barreira do Vasco Community, has the FORECAST to be RELOCATED to the new Apartments (“Minha Casa , Minha Vida”) to be built on the Empty Land, which belonged to Metalúrgica Rheem, next to Mercado Assaí (see the Google Handmade Image, shown above), where ALL Residents, with this Condition, will become OWNERS and not more “Squatters”, as they are considered today. This is called LAND REGULARIZATION!

      GOOD SENSE AND STRENGTHENING A FORGOTTEN AREA are the “Key Words” for this Imposing Work, which will bring Prosperities to the Place, so it can “get off the ground” with satisfaction and without “cuts”!

      Finally, we express here the wishes of a Blessed Anniversary, to CRVG, for the passage of its 124 years of existence, in this Month of August 2022 and that better days are coming, for our beloved Club!

     SV (“Greeting Vascaínas”) to everyone and follow the YouTube Link, from the São Januário Stadium Expansion Project, for Vasco da Gama Fans to understand what is being proposed so far: