Considered the fifth most populous city in the world as of 2022, São Paulo is confronted with a multitude of challenges befitting its over 22 million inhabitants. Among the numerous urban issues faced, the depopulation of the city's historic center has been a recurring topic for at least four decades, with governments announcing measures that could potentially reverse the situation. In the meantime, the same center has witnessed a rise in housing occupations in abandoned buildings, highlighting the importance of its redefinition and residential potential.
One state measure aimed at "reviving" downtown São Paulo gained prominence. The Requalifica Centro Program, announced in July 2021, established tax incentives to encourage retrofit projects in the downtown area targeting buildings within the specified perimeter and constructed up to September 1992. Some of the incentives provided include exemption from property tax (IPTU) for the first three years, issuance of the certificate of completion of work, application of progressive IPTU rates for five years, reduction to 2% of the ISS rate for services related to the redevelopment project (engineering, architecture, construction, cleaning, maintenance, environment), exemption from property transfer tax (ITBI) for properties undergoing redevelopment, exemption from municipal fees for installation and operation for five years, among others.
