Rebuilding Pelourinho involved a lot of research and planning, but one factor which seems to have been left out (it certainly was left out in practice) was that of community.  Nightlife in the simple sense (hanging out at the local spots, maybe listening to music, maybe dancing) tends for the most part to happen close to home in Salvador (special events excepted).  Pelourinho, a sizable neighborhood, was rebuilt to be almost completely commercial.  The area would have a lot more of the flavor of everyday (everynight?) Salvador if living space had been a part of the equation.