A building battle raises resentment in Recife, Brazil

Americas Now

Along Brazil’s most beautiful stretch of coastline, a battle is underway as land from an old port city may be developed into a luxury apartment complex, displacing residents.

Correspondent Gerry Hadden reports on the rising tensions of Recife and the debate over public and private spaces.


A building battle raises resentment in Recife, Brazil

Along Brazil’s most beautiful stretch of coastline, a battle is underway as land from an old port city may be developed into a luxury apartment complex, displacing residents. Correspondent Gerry Hadden reports on the rising tensions of Recife and the debate over public and private spaces.

Recife is known as the Venice of Brazil and was a host city during the 2014 World Cup. But today it has become the setting for a hostile showdown as conservationists are going up against developers and poor blacks against elites accused of trying to take their land.

The land in question is an old train yard called Estelita. The city wants to build high-rise condos there while the protesters want public parks. The stand-off has gone on for more than a year with several clashes that have sometimes turned violent.

Watch Gerry Hadden’s report for “Americas Now” to see this struggle for the soul of a city.