5
Node and CCM, concepts for understanding the urban configuration in Heliópolis
To understand the commercial dynamics in Heliópolis, we must analyze the urban setting of the broad area that it occupies, from its main, secondary and tertiary roads, as well as the distribution of the local businesses. Two concepts were fundamental to understand that functioning: Node and Composite Commercial Microcenter (CCM), developed after my work in slums and lower middle class neighborhoods in Lima, Peru in 2009.
By 2008, we observed that a commercial pole, or Node, is characterized by the high concentration of services and significant movement of people, which also enables the development of anonymous and impersonal relationships in commerce. Nodes are, by excellence, places of transit in which interactions occur only commercially - which generates higher formalization in customer care and in the forms of payment. They fulfill a crucial role in the commercial dynamics of an urban area, since they function as systemic devices of economic development and capital circulation.
The nodes are places of transience and can, also, be defined by the concept of no-place{51}, of Marc Augé. An idea that is opposite to the concept of place, which includes the spaces in which residents have strong personal ties.
In contrast to the Node, the Composite Commercial Microcenters (CCM) are characterized by being relatively small commercial cores, catering to a small number of people, which facilitates the development of personal relationships, especially between merchants and customers. They are not transit areas, in other words, they are not characterized as no-place but as place, in which it is possible to not only pass, but interact in a more intense social network.
In the CCM, it is possible to find characteristics of the anthropological place, a sort of second skin of the resident, because they do not only live there but share a family history and consolidated personal relationships. From there it emanates the formation of ties marked by a relational intimacy.
But the Nodes and the CCM are categories more determined by the relative and composite flow of merchandise and goods. Hence the importance of the roads that interconnect them.
In the case of Heliópolis, because it presents aspects typical of a favela and characteristics of popular neighborhood, it is important to note that the difference between center and periphery, explicit in the relationship Node/CCM, cannot be fully applied. The concept of periphery must be understood here as a space of lack and absence of political and economic characteristics, features that contribute to a negative and stigmatized interpretation of the social reality of the popular sectors, as opposed to the center, or presence space, defined by commercial agglomerations. That situation, considered atypical when thinking of the main picture of favelas and periphery, also produces a specific context for the construction of the concepts of formality and informality for the relationship between Nodes and Composite Commercial Microcenters (CCM) in Heliópolis.
Hence the characterization of Nodes and CCM, specifically in Heliópolis, has as a basis not the relationship of absence (periphery) and presence (center), but, presences, in the plural, of different features that mark each of the groups.
The Nodes can be defined as areas where there is sale of products with higher added value, such as electronics, furniture, optical services, specialty products, among others; presence of an infrastructure that changes the whole configuration of the commerce, allowing it to become a distribution center of products; presence of banks and lottery outlets, areas for withdrawal of money and payments to accounts; area with a greater flow of people and that interconnects different areas of the city.
The CCMs, in turn, are characterized by being spaces where there is sale of simple products, which are also found in the Nodes, such as clothes and perishable and non-perishable foods, but with a higher price. In the CCMs there are physical structures that are more precarious or marked by the improvisation of the place of business (as a small garage of cars transformed into a kitchen or grocery store). There is also a greater presence of combined businesses, in other words, the simultaneous sale of products and services not typically associated to businesses in central areas of the city, such as bars that also sell women clothing; beauty salons that sell clothing; and jewelry stores and shops selling perfumes.
In Heliópolis, Nodes were the great centers of commercial interaction and flow of people, such as businesses located on the main access roads to the locality, Estrada das Lágrimas and São João Clímaco. Businesses located on roads defined as secondary and tertiary, due to their length, width and precarious condition, were classified as Composite Commercial Microcenters (CCM). These points present less traffic of people and the established commercial relations are, in general, personal, because they are relationships observed between local residents and merchants who also live in Heliópolis.
The concepts of Node and CCMs cannot be used as still categories. Therefore, due to the different degrees of impersonality a classification scale was adopted, A and B for the Nodes, and another one for the CCMs. Node A classification is attributed to the more impersonal shopping centers, such as the businesses located in the Estrada das Lágrimas. Classification of Node B extends to the businesses that present impersonality to a lesser extent - in this case, the businesses spread through that road. The same applies in relation to the CCMs, in which various degrees of personality were observed in business relations.
In Heliópolis, Nodes and CCMs can be initially separated into two categories: those that are inside the locality and those who are outside of it. This division is indeed very simple, but allows for an initial approximation between the two categories.
The boundaries of the CCMs and their nomenclature were determined from our field work and based on information reported by residents. The name of each CCM is related to an important street that is part of it. However, it does not mean it is limited only to that street. The Mina CCM, for example, refers to Rua da Mina as an important point of flow of goods and people. But other roads, such as Rua Social, Rua da União and Rua da Gertrudes, are also part of the CCM.
Schematically, the chart below shows distribution of Nodes and CCMs in Heliópolis:
NODES
CCM
Outside Heliópolis
Silva Bueno
Mina
Sao João Clímaco
Inside Heliópolis
Estrada das Lágrimas
Florestal
Alegría
Hospital Heliópolis
Cónego Xavier
Taylor
Heliópolis has three Nodes: Two of them outside the boundaries of the locality and one within its area, and six CCMs inside. The two categories have peculiar characteristics, divided into: Nodes A and B, and primary, secondary and tertiary CCMs, as Table 1 shows. Node A, central and located inside the locality, and Nodes B, also important, therefore of second order in relation to A, either by its location outside the studied area, the daily traffic of people.
A
B
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Outside Heliópolis
-
Silva Bueno Sao Joao Clímaco
-
-
-
-
-
Cônego Xavier
Hospital Heliópolis
Mina
Inside Heliópolis
Estrada das Lágrimas
-
Luiza
Alegría Taylor
Table 1 – Classification of Nodes and CCMs
The CCMs, in turn, were divided into three groups. The primary CCMs are the most important in terms of the dynamic role of the local commerce, by the proximity in relation to the Nodes, and because the strong commercial density and the diversity of services offered. The secondary CCMs present a relatively minor commercial density - some of them are even farther away from the Nodes, which could explain in part the lower concentration of commerce that flows from there - meanwhile, there is commercial diversity, as well as a homogeneous distribution of businesses on the streets comprising that group of microcenters. Finally, the tertiary CCMs have great potential for development, therefore they are classified that way because they concentrate commerce in just one street and have the lowest diversity of businesses.
Type A Nodes
Estrada das Lágrimas
This Node includes the entire length of the entrance of Heliópolis, from the Sacomã bus and metro station to the intersection with the Avenida São João Clímaco. The Estrada das Lágrimas is one of the great boundaries that define Heliópolis, and constitutes an important corridor for the flow of people due to the many bus lines that transit through the terminal. The area also presents a high flow of goods as an important commercial center.
Some businesses in Node Estrada das Lágrimas:
Appliances Repairs
11
Auto Parts
11
Banks and Lottery Outlets
1
Bars
13
Jewelry Stores
1
Taylor and Alterations
2
Candy Stores
5
Pharmacies
6
Internet House
5
Small Restaurants
8
Nail Salons
1
Home Building Supplies
9
Grocery Stores
2
Minimarkets
13
Produce Stands
4
Auto Repair Shops
10
Clothing Stores
13
Hair Salons
23
The Estrada das Lágrimas is a Node different than the others, because it combines characteristics of commerce predominant in the CCMs and type B Nodes. It has defining characteristics of the Nodes such as banks, gas stations, furniture stores, and a large amount of bars, hair salons and Internet House, which can also be found in the CCMs.
Type B Nodes:
Silva Bueno
Node Silva Bueno has Rua Silva Bueno as its main road, and the section analyzed includes the five blocks between Rua Clementine Pereira and Rua Lord Cochrane. It is a densely urbanized area, next to the terminal and the Sacomã metro station, with an important network of commerce and services. It was cited several times by residents of Heliópolis as a reference of a commercial center, with the option to make credit purchases.
Some businesses in Node Silva Bueno:
Appliances Repairs
0
Auto Parts
1
Banks and Lottery Outlets
10
Bars
2
Jewelry Stores
8
Taylor and Alterations
0
Candy Stores
3
Pharmacies
6
Internet House
0
Small Restaurants
10
Nail Salons
1
Home Building Supplies
0
Grocery Stores
0
Minimarkets
8
Produce Stands
1
Auto Repair Shops
2
Clothing Stores
19
Hair Salons
3
This node has the most significant concentration of banks in the vicinity of Heliópolis. Beyond that, it offers certain kinds of businesses, not very common in the locality, such as shoe stores, exclusively women or men clothing stores, furniture stores and pharmacies.
São João Clímaco
Node São João Clímaco includes the Rua São João Clímaco, and the Rua São Silvestre and Rua Tamatua, area at the opposite end to the Sacomã Terminal. That Node, as well as the others, is the only place in the vicinity that offers the banking services, one of the characteristics of the Node, as economic center of production and distribution of goods, supplies, and capital. In addition, the area has two lottery outlets (important points for paying bills), optical services and a legal consultant. It is the most sought Node by the residents of the Gleba K, as it is an alternative to the purchase of goods and services, not available in the CCMs or in the Estrada das Lágrimas.
Some businesses in Node São João Clímaco:
Appliances Repairs
0
Auto Parts
5
Banks and Lottery Outlets
3
Bars
1
Jewelry Stores
0
Taylor and Alterations
2
Candy Stores
7
Pharmacies
1
Internet House
7
Small Restaurants
0
Nail Salons
1
Home Building Supplies
3
Grocery Stores
7
Minimarkets
1
Produce Stands
7
Auto Repair Shops
2
Clothing Stores
5
Hair Salons
5
Primary CCMs
Cônego Xavier
The Composite Commercial Microcenter (CCM) Cônego Xavier is bounded by Rua Cônego Xavier, by the stretch of Rua Cel. Silva Castro, from its start to the Heliópolis Hospital, and three blocks from Av. Alm. Delamare. That CCM has the largest concentration of commerce inside Heliópolis. This occurs homogeneously, which is not seen, for example, in the tertiary CCMs. Commerce and services in this CCM are the most diversified in the region. The area stands out for offering services such as auto repair shops, beauty salons, appliances repair shops, totaling 24 businesses. Another difference of this CCM are the pharmacies, which are not very big and become more difficult to find as one enters the microcenter. The location of this CCM is double privileged: on the one hand, it is one of the areas of Heliópolis closest to the access roads that lead to the center in terms of public transportation; on the other hand, it is located next to the housing projects in the North, ensuring merchants a constant flow of consumers.
CCM Cônego Xavier
Appliances Repairs
6
Auto Parts
11
Banks and Lottery Outlets
16
Bars
2
Jewelry Stores
2
Taylor and Alterations
1
Candy Stores
4
Pharmacies
1
Internet House
6
Small Restaurants
7
Nail Salons
1
Home Building Supplies
20
Grocery Stores
3
Minimarkets
9
Produce Stands
6
Auto Repair Shops
17
Secondary CCMs
Hospital
The CCM Hospital Heliópolis receive this name because of its proximity to the hospital. Although the land is not part of the locality of Heliópolis, it was included because much of the commerce there is directed to those who go for medical services and also to residents of the surrounding areas. This CCM presents the same business pattern of the region, in other words, bars, beauty salons, restaurants, cafeterias and minimarkets.
CCM Hospital Heliópolis
Appliances Repairs
0
Auto Parts
0
Banks and Lottery Outlets
0
Bars
10
Jewelry Stores
0
Taylor and Alterations
0
Candy Stores
0
Pharmacies
1
Internet House
1
Small Restaurants
5
Nail Salons
0
Home Building Supplies
2
Grocery Stores
6
Minimarkets
2
Produce Stands
1
Auto Repair Shops
3
Clothing Stores
5
Florestal
The CCM Florestal is delimited by Rua Itamaratí, Rua Padre Segundo and Rua Florestal. It is a CCM right next to the Estrada das Lágrimas, a factor that stimulates the economy of the area. In addition, it is an important reference for residents and real estate brokers. The centrality of the CCM Florestal is related to the flow of people and not to the number of businesses that are found there. It is a more residential than commercial area, where there are bakeries, pizzerias and a gymnastics academy, inside of the only mini shopping center of the locality of Heliópolis.
Appliances Repairs
3
Auto Parts
0
Banks and Lottery Outlets
10
Bars
2
Jewelry Stores
1
Taylor and Alterations
3
Candy Stores
0
Pharmacies
0
Internet House
8
Small Restaurants
2
Nail Salons
2
Home Building Supplies
14
Grocery Stores
5
Minimarkets
1
Produce Stands
5
Auto Repairs
12
Tertiary CCMs
We classify some areas within Heliópolis as tertiary CCMs for two reasons: first, by its low commercial density; second, for its development potential. That potential is related to certain factors capable of boosting the economic activity in the area, including the urban reforms in the glebas of Heliópolis, located in the Avenida Comandante Taylor, and the presence of streets with strong commerce, as in the cases of the CCMs Mina and Alegría. That scenario creates conditions to provide the strengthening of economic activity in the surrounding streets.
Mina
The CCM Mina is bounded by Rua Paraíba, Rua Social, Rua da União and Rua da Mina. Although the CCM Mina is tertiary, the Rua da Mina has characteristics of a primary CCM, which are not found in the surrounding streets. In addition to concentrate businesses of various types, is in that road where important centers of political and social organization in Heliópolis are located, such as the UNAS headquarters; the only library in the favela; a school of Robotics and a multisport complex, in which various social-educational projects take place. Rua da Mina can be considered the irradiator of economic and social development of Heliópolis. It is also the street that concentrates the largest number of bars in the area, totaling 29 units; beauty salons, 18 units, and minimarkets, 20 units.
CCM Mina
Appliances Repairs
4
Auto Parts
1
Banks and Lottery Outlets
29
Bars
3
Jewelry Stores
2
Taylor and Alterations
3
Candy Stores
0
Pharmacies
4
Internet House
6
Small Restaurants
6
Nail Salons
2
Home Building Supplies
20
Grocery Stores
5
Minimarkets
0
Produce Stands
9
Auto Repair Shops
18
Alegría
The CCM Alegría is demarcated by the Rua da Alegría, Rua Dia Três de Maio and Rua Primavera. That CCM is adjacent to the CCM Mina, almost splitting from it, opening up in more depth in Heliópolis. Therefore, as it happ