What is the 'Caveirão' and why will the building in São Paulo be demolished?
The São Paulo City Hall began the process of demolishing the building known as "Caveirão", in the Sé region, downtown São Paulo, after signing a contract with the company responsible for the work, on Wednesday 14th. Abandoned for decades, the private property presents an imminent risk of collapse, according to the municipal administration.
The unfinished building, which began construction in 1964, was once used as a shelter for more than 50 homeless families. The parking garage has 23 floors and a basement. The building's "residents" were removed by the São Paulo City Hall in 2018, when it was closed due to a risk of collapse.
In January 2025, the 13th Public Finance Court responded to a request from the Municipal Attorney General's Office to begin the demolition process.
Judge Maria Gabriella Pavlópoulos Spaolonzi authorized the proceedings and also ordered businessman Rivaldo Sant'anna, the property's current owner, to reimburse the city for expenses and pay fines for failing to comply with previous court decisions. The São Paulo courts consider the building's demolition justified by "the precarious structure of the building and the risk it poses to the entire community."
IstoÉ
