{"id":83306,"date":"2026-05-15T02:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T05:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=83306"},"modified":"2026-05-15T02:04:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T05:04:07","slug":"this-is-where-my-life-began-residents-of-santa-teresas-candido-mendes-mansion-claim-their-right-to-stay-in-talks-with-the-federal-heritage-secretariat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=83306","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This Is Where My Life Began:’ Residents of Santa Teresa Occupation Claim Right to Stay in Talks With Federal Heritage Secretariat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion in Santa Teresa, in Rio de Janeiro’s central region, is a housing occupation where 64 families have lived since the 1990s. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Residents of the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion in Santa Teresa<\/a>, a neighborhood in central Rio de Janeiro, are at imminent risk of repossession proceedings leading to eviction after a construction project contracted out by Brazil\u2019s Secretariat of Federal Patrimony (SPU) caused damage to one of the building\u2019s pillars. Built in 1914 as a luxury hotel, the structure has also served as a convent. Since the 1990s it has been occupied as social housing, mostly as a home for former convent and informal workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A coalition of residents, technical allies including lawyers, architects and professors from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Fluminense Federal University (UFF), and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), as well as the Rio de Janeiro State Public Defender\u2019s Office<\/a> and the Federal Prosecutor\u2019s Office, however, disputes the need for expulsion. According to technical reports, emergency repairs to the building are needed to ensure that residing families can remain<\/a> safely in their homes.<\/p>\n

Reparations: A Historic Building Now Serves as Social Housing<\/h3>\n

The C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion has had various uses throughout its history. Initially built as Hotel Moderno<\/a>, an international luxury hotel in the 1940s, it was later incorporated into the SPU\u2019s assets due to the former owners\u2019 debts. In 1952, it was ceded to the Order of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. When the Order left the property, use rights to the building were transferred to the Order\u2019s former live-in workers.<\/p>\n

Dona Francisquinha is the occupation’s oldest resident. At 95, she has lived there for 37 years, since 1989, and is one of the workers from the building\u2019s convent era.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lived here for 37 years, back when this was a convent, when it belonged to nuns. They lived here since the time of [President] Get\u00falio Vargas. Then, when they were founding the Order, Dom Jaime de Barros C\u00e2mara was the one who spoke with Vargas and got this building for them. It used to be a famous hotel. [The owners] were in debt with the government and gave up the building. That\u2019s how they helped found the Order of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. The nuns lived here for almost 50 years. Around that time, they called me to work here because I was a receptionist. So I came and stayed. Over the years, [the Order] left and I stayed on. I\u2019m still here because I need to be, you know? And that\u2019s why I’m still here, even today.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Matilde<\/a>
Matilde Guilhermina (left) with Dona Francisquinha (right), now 95, and one of the Mansion\u2019s longest-standing residents. Dona Francisquinha says she hopes to continue living there, a place she has called home since 1989. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another long-time resident, Maria da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Vicente, 69, has lived in the Mansion since 1995, for 31 years now:<\/p>\n

\u201cI first came here in 1980, when I brought my brother-in-law lunch\u2014he had a room here. I got here and Sister Terezinha told me [I was unemployed at the time] she needed someone to clean the rooms of the ladies who couldn\u2019t do it themselves, who were much older\u2026 So, I accepted [the offer] and started working here. Later, I started working in other places, but on Saturdays, I\u2019d come here to do laundry for the ladies and clean for them\u2026 In 1995, I came to live here and I\u2019m still here; [at the time] my youngest daughter was three and my oldest was twelve.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nathanael Jos\u00e9 Pereira, 71, has lived in the building for 36 years. Now retired, he also worked for the Order:<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to live here through my partner, who already knew the place and worked [here] back when the nuns were still around. Then, when a spot opened up, she spoke with the administrator, Sister Cinila. We came here with my whole family, to live and work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Aside from workers from the time of the Order who remained in the building, other informal workers also live in the Mansion. This is also an important issue: living in the city center means having better work opportunities. Ivo Manuel dos Santos Faria J\u00fanior, known as \u2018J\u00fanior,\u2019 37, is a street vendor and has lived in the mansion since 2020:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lived here since 2020. I work in the street [as a vendor], taking advantage of the [opportunities in the] area, which is well located. I also managed to bring my family here, who used to live in Santa Cruz<\/a>, a neighborhood [in the extreme West Zone of the city] where it\u2019s hard to find work. Here, through informal street work, they were also able to buy their own home, where they like living\u2026 this is also their home base. Every carnival, they come here to work. It\u2019s very important for us to be here and remain because, besides housing, this place was a starting point for improving our lives. Not just mine, but my mother\u2019s too\u2014a 64-year-old woman who came here at 50, never had a formal job and always worked informally. She has a [vendor] cart to work samba events and other events. And all of this is possible because we live here.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ivo<\/a>
Ivo Manuel dos Santos Faria J\u00fanior, known as J\u00fanior, highlights the importance of living in the mansion, where he cultivated a support network for family and work. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mansion is also an alternative for people seeking more affordable housing amid the reality of high rents in the city center. As Maria da Penha dos Santos, 68, who has lived in the building for 19 years, explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cI came here with my four children and four grandchildren through a recommendation. I was living in a place where the rent was very expensive, and I couldn\u2019t afford it anymore. I lived on Ladeira de Santa Teresa, very close to the Lapa Arches. So I came here. I worked in two different places, so this place is great for me. And my children also studied and worked around here. My children and I love living here.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ma\u00edra Martins, a professor in the Architecture Department at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro who also coordinates the Interdisciplinary Research and Extension Center for Collaborative Social Interest Projects and Practices (COLABIS<\/a>), emphasizes that residents\u2019 presence plays an important role in preserving the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion. Residents make improvements to their units, maintaining the building as best they can and preventing it from being completely abandoned, along with all the effects that come with that.<\/p>\n

According to Martins, the mere fact that the building is occupied prevents further structural degradation, pest infestation and garbage accumulation, among other issues. In this sense, occupations serving as social housing also end up playing an important urban role by giving use to structures that would otherwise be subject to rapid deterioration. Martins emphasizes that residents have kept the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion functional for at least 30 years through renovation work:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as they can, [the residents] make improvements to the building. They renovated the roof lining due to leaks. They also repaired walls and removed tree roots and frequently remove crumbling plaster from the fa\u00e7ade, specifically to prevent falls or accidents. So, they take a series of precautions, a kind of \u2018soft\u2019 maintenance, which is all they can do. For deeper maintenance, they need more funding\u2026 The issue with an empty building\u2014an unoccupied one\u2014is that it presents a much higher risk of structural problems than an occupied building, due to the [lack of] attention and maintenance. This is very important for the surrounding area, because every abandoned property generates a process of deterioration around it. This means the area does not become unsafe, poorly lit or frequented by fewer people. So, the simple fact that [the building] is occupied is already a way for this property to bring life to the area around it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Series of Mistakes Made by the Secretariat of Federal Patrimony<\/h3>\n

Attorney Mariana Trotta serves as the key legal council on the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion case. After the occupation’s case was referred to the Land Solutions Commission of the 2nd Region Regional Federal Court (TRF2), the property’s residents\u2019 association requested support from Trotta, a law professor at UFRJ and coordinator of the Luiza Mahin Popular University Legal Assistance Center (Najup<\/a>). According to her, the mansion has been the target of a repossession action filed by the SPU since 2020. However, in December 2025, even with the case under review by the TRF2 commission, which aims to mediate conflicts and prevent forced evictions, the trial court ordered the building\u2019s immediate evacuation without a deadline for the eviction or any alternative housing. This sparked intense concern among residents, whose work and income are closely tied to the economic flows of the region where they live. Most have nowhere to go if the eviction moves forward. They would be left without work and without a home.<\/p>\n

\"Attorney<\/a>
Attorney and professor Mariana Trotta (left) and resident Lucinalva de Sousa (right) observe the pillar where structural damage occurred after construction work by an SPU contractor, putting the building and over 60 residents at risk. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Trotta, the SPU justifies the forced eviction based on the building\u2019s structural risk. However, expert reports\u2014prepared with technical assistance from UFF\/OPPHUS-EAU and PUC Rio\/COLABIS in collaboration with the occupation\u2014indicate that there is no such imminent risk requiring families to leave:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that the building needs structural repairs from the federal government. It\u2019s a property that these families have lived in since the 1990s, one that needs maintenance. But there are reports by UFF and PUC that prove there is no imminent risk requiring the families to leave. In fact, [the same reports say] it would be feasible to carry out repairs on the building while allowing families to remain there, simply by relocating them within the building.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Trotta also points out that the SPU is responsible for the building\u2019s structural damage following interventions carried out by the agency itself. Therefore, the secretariat should resolve the problem it caused instead of evicting residents.<\/p>\n

Amid fears of eviction, negotiations remain in process\u2014proposals to transfer families to a housing complex in Guadalupe<\/a>, in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s North Zone<\/a>, have been rejected by residents. They are demanding to remain where they are while the necessary renovations are carried out and have been awaiting a solution from the SPU since January 2026.<\/p>\n

Sandra Kokudai, an architect and urban planner who works as a parliamentary assistant with a focus on housing policy, says that the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion has long been the site of a struggle for land regularization. According to Kokudai, the building came to be designated for social housing and included in proposals under the Minha Casa Minha Vida-Entidades<\/a> federal public housing program for self-built housing, whose project was recently approved with support from the Oscar Niemeyer Social Institute for Projects and Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The building\u2019s structural problems were exacerbated by the flawed execution of recent interventions, including the installation of metal support pillars. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kokudai explains how the problem was caused by negligent roof works carried out by a company hired by the SPU for renovations. According to the architect, the improper accumulation of construction debris caused one of the building’s pillars to give way. Despite this, expert reports indicate there is no imminent risk of collapse, although emergency work is necessary\u2014such as proper shoring and correcting leaks aggravated by flaws in the execution of recent interventions, including the installation of metal support pillars.<\/p>\n

\u201cSPU hired out the roofing project, which was a long-standing demand, even pursued in court by the residents themselves in an effort to preserve the building. Finally, this request was granted last year. Residents repeatedly stressed that the rooftop terrace could not take on too much weight\u2026 The contractor accumulated rubble from the work on the rooftop, then it rained and it was chaos. A pillar from the metal structure gave way and opened a crack in a wall.<\/p>\n

The building is [like] an elderly lady who needs care, but she\u2019s standing, she\u2019s walking, she\u2019s still strong. If you look at the building\u2019s structure, the walls are very thick. The question was whether the building\u2019s internal metal structure would hold up after the pillar gave way. There were several reports, the city\u2019s Civil Defense came here, the SPU hired a company to prepare a report and the families, through partnerships with UFF and PUC, also conducted analyses to determine whether the building was truly safe. All the reports indicate that there is no imminent risk. So, the building is safe, although emergency repairs are needed.\u201d \u2014 Sandra Kokudai<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Matilde Guilhermina de Alexandre, 67, has lived in the occupation since 2010 and actively participates in the fight to improve the building\u2019s conditions. She was a key figure in negotiations with Light<\/a> and CEDAE<\/a>\u2014respectively Rio\u2019s private electric utility and public water utility\u2014which cut off services to the ocupation <\/a>during the pandemic. De Alexandre also closely monitors the situation with the company contracted by the SPU to carry out the renovations that caused one of the building\u2019s pillars to give way:<\/p>\n

\u201c[The contractor] presented about seven timelines at the time, and we were skeptical\u2026 We had meetings with the SPU [and despite our complaints,] they hired the company [anyway]. They started working on the roof in October. [Out of nowher] they handed the project over to the SPU [as if it were finished,] but not to us. [The contractor] handed over a project that wasn\u2019t finished. And, when the first rain came, the whole roof came down. Everything they had done collapsed, and water kept pouring into the homes. There are videos of people desperate as water came gushing in.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"A<\/a>
A series of mistakes by the Secretariat of Federal Patrimony led to one of the mansion\u2019s pillars giving way, seen on the right side of the photo. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

De Alexandre explains that from then onwards, there were a series of building inspections. Reports from PUC and UFF confirmed that the building was not at risk of imminent collapse although repairs were needed to guarantee the residents\u2019 safety. However, on December 15\u2014just before Christmas\u2014she says an officer of the court knocked on the Mansion\u2019s door:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe process server arrived here at around six or seven o\u2019clock in the evening and said, \u2018Look, this is a legal action against you, it\u2019s a repossession order, you\u2019re going to have to leave and five residents need to sign here.\u2019 But before that, on August 22, 2025, the SPU nominated our building to participate in the Minha Casa Minha Vida-Entidades federal housing program. It was published in the Official Gazette and they told us: \u2018You\u2019ve all been here for many years, I think it\u2019s your turn to participate in the program.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In an interview, Daniel Cardoso, a professor in PUC-Rio\u2019s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department who authored the structural assessment report and recommendations<\/a> regarding the C\u00e2ndido Mendes Mansion, explained that despite the building\u2019s fragilities resulting from its age, lack of maintenance and additional structural load over time, the structure demonstrates good overall stability:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe structure has redundancy and the ability to redistribute structural forces, which explains why the damage observed in the pillar did not spread. The external structural masonry is robust and contributes to the building\u2019s overall stability, while the internal metal structure, although more slender, also has sufficient redundancy. With the adoption of shoring, loads can be adequately redirected, even with the localized loss of capacity [due to the pillar’s collapse]. There is therefore no evidence of an imminent risk of global collapse, but it is essential to adopt measures such as load reduction, shoring the primary beams and carrying out localized repairs, especially given the building\u2019s ongoing deterioration.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n