THE PROJECT
Urban 2 is a programme for "urban regeneration"
promoted by the European Union to subsidise projects designed to stimulate
development and improve the quality of life and the environment
in the city district of Mirafiori Nord. The programme provides for interventions
worth over 40 million Euro: the funds will be used to trigger processes
of social, physical and economic transformation in the area, to bring
forth new, favourable growth opportunities for the local community.
Urban 2 is part of a broader campaign for the improvement of the peripheral
districts of Turin, which the city has been implementing since 1998:
to this end it set up a new municipal division, called Settore Periferie.
Through this programme, over the years, the City of Turin has invested
huge resources for the rehabilitation of its outer districts in terms
of land use, the environment and social aspects. At present Settore
Periferie is working on fourteen local development projects underway
in Turin, including one in the area of Mirafiori Nord. Based on the
work of the Social Table, a working group staffed by representatives
of local associations and citizens, created at the preparatory stage
(before the Urban tender), it was decided to propose the district of
Mirafiori Nord as a candidate for the Urban programme based on systematic
research & planning activities. A proactive contribution to the works
of the Social Table was provided by the city's economic and social forces
interested in the transformation & regeneration of the area. The
Community Initiative Programme (PIC) called URBAN II Mirafiori Nord
was formally approved with resolution no. C/2001/3531, passed on 23
November 2001. The programme submitted by the City of Turin, in fact,
had been rated as one of ten best proposals in the nationwide selection
procedure organised by the Ministry of Public Works, in replay to the
EU call for tenders (Communication to the Community Member States by
European Commission of 28 April 2000, no. 2000/C141/04). Thus, with
the area of Mirafiori Nord, Turin will be the venue of major rehabilitation
interventions, based on programme to be implemented through 2006, which
encompasses 9 other Italian cities and some 70 European cities. In keeping
with the goals identified by the M.D. of 7 July 2000 "Community initiative
programs for the economic & social revitalisation of cities and depressed
city outskirts, for the promotion of sustainable urban development -
URBAN II", the programme intends to promote the planning and implementation
of innovative strategies designed to bring on a sustainable economic
and social recovery of Mirafiori Nord and foster the exchange of data
and experiences on the regeneration of city areas & sustainable urban
development in the European Union. Urban 2 activities got underway in
January 2002, based on the final resolution passed by the European Community
in late 2001. The headquarters of Urban 2, located in via Rubino 24
at the corner with via Nitti, has been working since April; this is
were the Committee specially set up to steer project activities carries
out most of its work. The programme, which is now fully operational,
relies on a close collaboration between the district government ("Circoscrizione"),
the citizens living in the area and the promoting bodies. Their
common goal is to change local conditions for the best, through intelligent
interventions, so as to offer the citizens of Mirafiori Nord an opportunity
to restore their community to dynamic conditions and improved quality
of life standards. Urban 2, the project fine tuned for Mirafiori Nord
- an area with ca 25 thousand inhabitants extending over more two million
square metres - is organised along three principals lines ("axes") of
intervention: Green axis - physical recovery and environmental sustainability.
Requalifying the physical environment, by revamping the numerous green
and sports areas that already exist so as to create public spaces and
urban itineraries; promoting sustainable development as a distinctive
characteristic of this district, to make the area more pleasant to live
in and thereby encourage both the residents and the rest of the city
to rediscover it. Among the numerous projects underway we should mention
the requalification of Piazza Livio Bianco, the road axis of
Corso Tazzoli and via Gaidano and via Dina, the restructuring of Cascina
Roccafranca, the attainment of a 50% target for diversified waste
collection. Azure axis - creation of infrastructures and know-how for
economic growth. Supporting existing businesses and helping new ones
to grow and provide employment opportunities, so as to convert a peripheral
area into a veritable productive and vital centre that is able to supply
modern, technological advanced services, enhance creativity, stimulate
innovation, help weaker groups to have access to jobs. Among the projects
on the agenda we should mention initiatives to support small businesses,
services to develop the potentials of the new economy, educational and
hands-on training activities. Red axis - social integration, cultural
growth, the struggle again discrimination. Strengthening social relations
and the networks of contacts between the inhabitants, so as to minimise
phenomena of isolation and social discrimination, extending the range
of existing services and improving their quality and accessibility;
creating opportunities for cultural and artistic expression, that might
consolidate the identity and sense of belonging to a community. Among
the projects launched we should mention the creation of the so called
Home of the Daily ("Casa del Quotidiano"), a centre for families,
youngsters and the elderly, the Courtyard project for the improvement
of the quality of life in public housing facilities, "public art" interventions,
with the participation of the people attending, a project on the history
and memories of the district.
