The context: Urban regeneration policies in Italy Why Torino is unusual?

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1 London School of Economics/CASE City Reformers Workshop, Torino 19-20th May 2008 The context: Urban regeneration policies in Italy Why Torino is unusual? Massimo Bricocoli Dipartimento di Architettura e Pianificazione Politecnico di Milano

2 The Italian Context. URBAN REGENERATION POLICIES ARE LOCAL AND PHYSICAL NO NATIONAL URBAN POLICY: In Italy there is no tradition of nationwide policies targeting cities comparable to those of northern European Countries PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS have a dominant role in urban regeneration

3 The Italian Context. SEPARATE POLICIES ON PEOPLE AND PLACES policies focused on places and those on people, ( material and immaterial policies) are very separated Italian policymakers have generally failed to take into account the systemic nature of urban problems, the way in which social and physical aspects are interrelated

4 The Italian Context. WEAKNESS OF HOUSING POLICIES Weak public policies on housing in the last 20 years, : 75% of Italian households own the flats they live in 20% are renting their flats on the private market Public and social housing stock is 4-5% Little regulation in the private rental market: a general law regulating duration of contracts, rents are fixed by the market Lack of affordable dwellings on the rental market for the lower and middle income groups Few efforts in innovating management of existing public and social housing stock, no active role for public housing tenants

5 The Italian Context. DEVOLUTION OF POLICY MAKING Devolution started in the 70 s with the creation of Regions and became one of the major points of the national political agenda with the constitutional reform of 2001 Devolution gives local governments regions and cities main responsibilities and competences on welfare, health, social housing, urban safety policies

6 The Italian Context. DIRECT ELECTION OF MAYORS Direct election gave to the Major high autonomy and full responsibility in the appointment of deputy mayors Regions and Cities became like political testing grounds of different modes of government and - eventually - laboratories for policy innovations

7 That is the context in which since the 90 s a set of urban regeneration programmes were tailored at urban areas and neighourhoods

8 Different sets of programmes, new elements Area based and integrated approach to urban regeneration as in previous experiences of other European Countries (GB, D, F ) competition among local governments in competitive bids for the allocation of public funds New guidelines and keywords: Integration: among institutions and policy actors (vertical and horizontal), of different policies and measures (physical, economic, social), of different sources of funding participatory approach, involvement of the inhabitants P&P partnerships + non profit organisations

9 Which are the main targets of urban regeneration programmes in Italy?

10 Target areas A. PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES Mainly built in major cities of the North, after WW1 and after WW2 Solutions for enormous housing demand (cfr.labour migrants from southern Italy) Worked as platforms for cultural integration political socialisation administrative decentralisation,

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14 Target areas B. HISTORIC CENTRES Mixed in terms of population and activities, Dense urban structure Bad reputation but architectural qualities First access to housing for new immigrants Tradition of renewal focused at architectural conservation but some early experiences (Bologna in the 70 s) had introduced integrated and socially oriented Urban Renewal programs

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18 Which were the instruments for public action? LSE/CASE City Reformers Workshop TORINO19-20th May 2008

19 Instruments that urban regeneration programmes have been using to produce innovation Funding (money) Allocation of extra/specific resources for neighbourhood programs has been a key to involve local governments Programmes instead of Plans : focus on objectives, time sheets and deadlines Obligation to appoint a responsible director, in charge of each programme: project managers as new profiles within the bureaucracy of municipalities Involvement of private and nonprofit groups in the support / management of neighbourhood program

20 Why Torino is unusual? LSE/CASE City Reformers Workshop TORINO19-20th May 2008

21 Why Torino is unusual Although a national urban policy is missing, It succeeded in designing a comprehensive urban policy. How? strong political committment to innovating public action and to developing urban policies definition of a clear city wide strategy and approach to urban regeneration a magpie attitude in learning from best practices (an active and effective use of city networks) brilliant combination of various programs and sources of funding (EU, National, Regional, Local, Private) in designing and pursuing a comprehensive regeneration policy

22 Why Torino is unusual It acted on people and places. How? Assuming that action at neighbourhood level is a lever to disveal the hell of sectoral policies and the perversions of bureaucracy Combining multidepartmental cooperation at City and neighbourhood level Assuming that non physical actions (eg. culture) make the difference Learning by doing the critical factors for effective job creation, for social and economic development Recognising that in the absence of integrated neighbourhood policies, a demand for safety policies takes the lead

23 Why Torino is unusual It seems open to new challenges (to be monitored!): Transferring local development and job creation models and programs from regional policies to the inner city: agencies, programmes and tools Using previous Urban Regeneration programmes as learning ground for innovating public policies on social housing and socially deprived groups Supporting the involvement of private or non profit organisation in the urban policies and in the provision of services within a strong guidance by the City Administration and not intending it (as elsewhere) as simple outsourcing and privatisation...

24 Massimo Bricocoli PhD, Assistant Professor Dipartimento di Architettura e Pianificazione Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi, Milano - I massimo.bricocoli bricocoli@polimi.itit