São Paulo Court maintains suspension of ‘Paulista Times Square’ project

The Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJSP) has rejected an appeal by the São Paulo City Hall, maintaining the suspension of the Boulevard São João project, popularly known as the ‘Paulista Times Square’. The initiative, proposed by FDB Digital Participações Ltda., aimed to install large-scale LED panels—ranging from 300 to 1,000 square meters—and video mapping projections on building facades at the intersection of Avenida São João and Avenida Ipiranga.

The 7th Public Law Chamber of the TJSP justified the decision based on the project's massive scale and its potential impact on the urban landscape and the community. Judges raised concerns regarding visual pollution, environmental degradation, and the risk of irreversible damage to buildings of significant historical and landscape value in the city's historic center.

Additionally, the court noted potential conflicts with the ‘Lei Cidade Limpa’ (Clean City Law), which regulates public advertising. There were also questions regarding the legitimacy of the decision-making process, specifically whether technical approvals were granted before the conclusion of public consultations. The suspension prohibits any works or installations related to the project under penalty of a daily fine.