Final answer:
Urban planners in Rio aimed to fix issues such as environmental and health hazards, inadequate housing, and high crime rates prominent in favelas, with urban renewal initiatives like the National Housing Act. However, these efforts often led to displacement without resolving the underlying issues, while cities like Curitiba demonstrated successful urban planning by enhancing mass transit and environmental features.
Step-by-step explanation:
Urban Issues in Rio and Urban Planning Efforts
Urban planners in Rio de Janeiro aimed to address various challenges associated with urban living. During the 2016 Olympics, the disparities of urban development were highlighted through reports of environmental concerns, safety, and health hazards present in the city's infrastructure and living conditions. Urban issues like the presence of favelas, characterized by poverty, lack of official land ownership, inadequate public services, and high crime rates, were prominent indicators of the pressing need for urban renewal and sustainable development.
Plans for urban renewal included initiatives like the National Housing Act, which aimed at slum clearance to make way for decent housing, less crime, and improved living environments. However, the implementation often led to the displacement of communities and did not sufficiently resolve the structural problems causing urban decline. Some were left with fewer housing options, and new buildings quickly deteriorated, replicating the conditions of the slums they replaced.
Urban planners in other Brazilian cities, such as Curitiba, have shown more success by promoting mass transit and environmental planning, creating pedestrian-friendly zones, and incorporating bike routes to enhance mobility and reduce pollution. The core issue in cities like Rio arises from rapid urbanization and internal migration, causing a sprawl of favelas and deepening social tensions.