Reflections on the urban expansion of São João da Boa Vista – SP (2010-2016)

Abstract

Through reading and interpretation of data on urban expansion in São João da Boa Vista, this paper aims to clarify the characteristics of such expansion from 2010 to 2016 and understand what led to the present situation. Data from several sources (particularly the Mayor's Office and land development companies) were territorialized to better illustrate their impact. The city has declining population growth, low urbanization level and significant increase of urban empty spaces, which leads to questioning about the need for expansion. Excessive sprawling over the last years brought negative consequences to the urban tissue, such as proliferation of homogeneous residential areas with low density and urbanistic quality, lacking public infrastructure and devoid of service, commerce and leisure options. Such situation must be taken into account in the city's current urban planning to avoid worsening of the difficulties pointed out, and the consequences of such expansion must be dealt with.