Rio de Janeiro is planning a new revitalization project around Praça XV, informally called "Porto Maravilha 2.0," which aims to transform the area into a new gastronomic and cultural hub for the city. The revitalized Porto Maravilha area already has attractions such as the new gastronomic hub in the Touring building and the Museum of Tomorrow, but the area around the square still functions more as a pass-through than a destination.
Between 1907 and the early 1960s, much of Praça da Marechal Âncora was occupied by the merchants and customers of the Municipal Market, which operated almost 24 hours a day. In 1963, the market was transferred to Benfica, giving rise to Cadeg, and the old shops were demolished to allow the construction of the Perimetral Elevated Highway by then-Governor Carlos Lacerda. The Perimetral Elevated Highway was then demolished in 2013.
If the new plan takes off, the area could gain a new purpose through a concession to the private sector. On Monday, the Carioca Company of Partnerships and Concessions opened a public consultation with the project draft, allowing the population to participate and contribute suggestions for the development of the area.
