The 1950s were the heyday of the Center of Porto Alegre; it was already densely built and had Rua da Praia as the main catwalk for the elite, transformed from a wholesaler's point into an elegant shopping area, also attracting the installation of numerous cafes, patisseries, cinemas and restaurants. It has also become the preferred venue for popular gatherings at civic events and political demonstrations, sometimes witnessing scenes of collective violence. Thompson Flores, taking over City Hall in 1969, carried out a government characterized by major works, especially in the area of transport, favored by the economic boom of the Brazilian Miracle. He built large viaducts, but the technical approach to the projects as a rule disregarded the popular will in prioritizing investments and elementary aspects of urban landscaping, and in this progressive zeal, numerous old buildings disappeared, some of great historical and architectural significance. The physiognomy of the Center was impoverished.
